Government lifts ban on concerts amid roaring pandemic

Government has relaxed restrictions that had been imposed on arts and culture sector nine month ago- owing to the Covid-19 pandemic that continues to establish its footholds in the country.

The chairman Board of trustees at the Uganda National Cultural Centre [UNCC], Mr Sam Okello through a December 16, 2020 letter said: “Our art and culture sector has now been opened to operate but with strict observance of the Ministry of Health Covid-19 Guidelines and SOPS.”

He added: “Our Art and Culture sector took a longer time to open considering that our business or activities mainly involve having many people around which is risky.”

Daily Monitor has also learnt that government has to a tune of Shs1.2 billion, compensated promoters whose events were halted in regards to Covid-19.

"I can confirm that this was received by the Ministry og Gender and sent to UNCC for issuance to promoters. UNCC is working with the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Finance to see that the same support could be extended to other artists with similar situations and we await the outcome," Mr Okello says.

The lifting of the ban comes even as the country and the world continue to grapple with fast-escalating cases of the contagion. Bars will remain under close. 

Roaring pandemic

The Ministry of Health [MoH] Tuesday said Uganda’s virus cases had been pushed to 28, 168 after 402 more people tested positive with the virus.

Recent weeks have seen Uganda highly record new overnight case tallies with the MoH announcing the country’s highest overnight case tally at 1,199 on December 8, 2020.

Meanwhile, December 15 also saw Uganda reach 225 Covid-19 related fatalities as the United Nations [UN] boss called on countries not to loosen the grip on the fight against the fast-spreading contagion.

Uganda accounts for over 10, 005 of the 47, 443, 294 recoveries that have been reported world-over.

Over 686, 847 human samples have been tested in Uganda for a virus that has gone on to bruise the globe, killing over 1.6 Million people.

Global anti-Coronavirus efforts got a hope-resumption following the approval of separate vaccines advanced by US and Germany Pharmaceutical giant companies- Moderna and Pfizer.

Campaigns, election and now concerts amid the pandemic

The Chairperson of Uganda’s Electoral Commission, Justice Simon Byabakama recently ruled out the possibility of postponing the January 2021polls despite experts warning that the 58-year-old nation’s Covid-19 cases could soon “explode.”

“It is too late. We cannot postpone the election,” Byabakama told the press.

Lifting the ban on musical concerts makes Uganda’s fight against Covid-19 unprecedented, given an electoral season atmosphere in which politicians, including President Yoweri Museveni, continue to flout State, Ministry of health and Electoral Commission guidelines aimed at defeating the virus.

Misinterpretation and application of such guidelines has since plunged the country into a violent start to the electoral season with over 58 people so-far killed in election related-violence.

Electoral observers say the ruling government is using Covid-19 guidelines as a tool of clamping on opposition leaning candidates.

“The ground is not levelled. They arbitrarily arrest, teargas and shoot live bullets at Opposition candidates yet NRM candidates don’t abide or obey,” said legal practioner, Timothy Amanya.

The Permanent Secretary [PS] to the Ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine is now rallying Ugandans.

“Please wear a mask and observe the guidelines.Covid-19 is real. Covid-19 kills,” Dr Atwine overly says during press engagements.

Uganda’s electoral season peaks on January 14, 2021 when presidential and legislative representative polls will be held. 

The presidential election pits incumbent president Museveni, seeking to extend his rule to 39 years, against ten other candidates including his opposition arch-rival and popstar turned politician Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine.

*Source of Global Covid-19 figures- Worldometres 

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