COVID-19: Security Round Up Scores at La Venti Bar In Najjera

A joint security force comprising military, intelligence and police personnel has rounded up scores of people who were partying at the popular La Venti bar in Najjera, Wakiso District.

The revelers were drinking heavily and enjoying shisha when security forces stormed the area on Sunday morning.

Bars in most Kampala suburbs have been quietly opening for customers despite heavy restrictions imposed by the president to prevent the spread of Coronavirus.

President Museveni recently warned flouting Health Ministry guidelines aimed at at countering the novel virus would attract a charge of “attempted murder.”

Videos recorded by eyewitnesses at La Venti show staggering revelers being helped by cops to board police vehicles before being driven to Kira Division Police Station.

Video: Police arresting revelers at La Venti Bar in Najjera on Sunday morning. Full story – https://t.co/iCh4nWqNEo pic.twitter.com/zbVvQ2J3HE

— ChimpReports (@ChimpReports) July 27, 2020

“Police rounded up these people who were enjoying their drinks. The entire premises were sealed off before armed personnel moved in to conduct mass arrests,” said an eyewitness.

Efforts to obtain a comment on the development from police were still futile as of this Monday morning.

The arrests come just a day after Uganda registered its second Coronavirus death.

An 80-year-old female resident of Mengo, Kisenyi III became the second person to die of COVID-19 in the East African country since the outbreak of the pandemic earlier this year.

On July 23, a 34-year-old woman died of COVID-19 in Namisindwa District, Eastern Uganda.

Bars and other entertainment centres have been closed since March with President Museveni emphasizing the need to observe

social distancing – the practice of purposefully reducing close contact between people. According to the CDC, social distancing means remaining out of “congregate settings” as much as possible; avoiding mass gatherings and maintaining a distance of about 6 feet from others when possible.

The risk of disease transmission is much higher in large groups of people.

The Health Ministry maintains social distancing is crucial for preventing the spread of contagious illnesses such as COVID-19 (coronavirus).

COVID-19 can spread through coughing, sneezing and close contact.

By minimizing the amount of close contact people have with others, they reduce their chances of catching the virus and spreading it to their loved ones and within their community.

Results from COVID-19 tests done on 25 July 2020 confirmed 12 new cases.

The cumulative total confirmed cases is 1,115.