Minister Mbayo Orders RDCs To Set Up Sub County Task Force To Fight Covid19

The Minister for Presidency Esther Mbayo has instructed Resident District Commissioners (RDC’s) to set up sub county COVID 19 Task Forces under the chairmanship of the sub county chiefs, with Gombolora Internal security officer (GISOs), Community Development Officers and Health Officers to boost the surveillance and quickly respond to emergencies in their respective areas. This Task Force should coordinate with RDC’s to ensure emergencies are attended to.

While speaking to journalists at Office of the President in Kampala on Monday, Mbayo said the Task Force is significant because RDCs cannot move the whole district at ago.

“The Task Force is to extend easy access because the RDC cannot move the whole district and cannot know what is happening in all areas,” she said.

She added that RDC’s must be accessible 24/7 and in the event that the RDC is not available, they should leave their numbers with their deputies to be able to receive emergency calls.

For RDC’s that don’t have deputies, Mbayo ordered them to have assistants.

The RDCs she said must continue to sensitise the population about the mode of spread of COVID 19 as guided by the Ministry of Health.

“It is now the duty of RDC’s to walk the talk and sensitise communities of the dangers of COVID 19 and how it is spread. I call upon the RDC’s to use airtime that is given by the Government to sensitise the community on measures that have been put in place by the Government and communicated to the country by H.E the President.”

However, for RDCs and RCCs that have been issuing 14 day emergency movement permits, Mbayo ordered them to only issue a one day emergency movement permit.

“Resident District Commissioners (RDC’s) and Resident City Commissioner and her deputies should continue to assess and issue permits for emergency medical movements of patients to from the hospitals or medical facilities. Such permits should not exceed one day,” she ordered.

Mbayo also expressed concern over the morning and evening physical exercises saying that they don’t adhere to social distancing.

The Government has been advising people to ensure a 4 metre distance from one another as one of the measures to contain the spread of Coronavirus.

“The morning and evening exercises are not adhering to social distance. It is good to exercise when you are at home. On Saturday I was coming from upcountry on surveillance but what I found along Northern bypass was hell. People are not adhering to social distancing. So please, assist Government to assist,” she said.

She appealed to cultural leaders to encourage their subjects to adhere to measures put in place by Government.

She reiterated President Museveni’s directive that gathering of more than 5 people is prohibited.