The Trade and Transport National Task Force sub-committee meeting of 24th April, 2020, has finally released resolutions and issued directives to be followed by truck drivers in a bid to combat the COVID-19 pandemic that has the whole world on tenterhooks.
Over the past few weeks, truck drivers bringing in cargo have been posing a big threat to the efforts made by the government in combating Coronavirus as most of the recent cases were imported by them from neighboring countries like Kenya and Tanzania.
The resolutions are as follows;
1. Have one driver per truck for all transit trucks. This will operate for the next four (4) weeks after which the relay system for drivers could be adopted. However, the Transporters who are ready are encouraged to effect the relay system for different countries.
2. All Truck drivers are required to strictly observe and follow the guidelines on recommended seclusion areas (night stop) along the cargo transit routes. These shall include;
I. From Malaba/Busia via Kamdini destined to Elegu or Vurra/Oraba land borders, the Seclusion and Health-break points are;
i. Health-break point: Kumi at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
ii. Seclusion point: Oculoi Lorry Parking and
Transporters in Katine Sub County, Soroti District.
iii. Health-break point: Lira at Shine Energy on Obote Avenue.
iv. Seclusion point: Kamdini at RSG Parking and Washing Bay in Kamdini Sub County, Oyam
District.
v. Health-break point: GASCO Petrol station at Custom corner, Gulu-Atiak road.
II. From Malaba/Busia destined to Vurra, Padea, Goli, Oraba, Lia, Panyimur land borders, the seclusion areas are;
i. Health-break point: Kumi at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
ii. Seclusion point: Oculoi Lorry Parking and Transporters in Katine Sub County, Soroti District.
iii. Health-break point: Lira at Shine Energy Petrol Station on Obote Avenue.
iv. Seclusion & Health-break point: Karuma Heritage Park, Karuma-Pakwach Junction,
Nwoya District.
v. Seclusion & Health-break point: Pakwach Railway Station yard near the Pakwach Bridge (Albert-Nile Bridge) in Pakwach Town Council in Pakwach District.
vi. Health-break point (for those destined to Oraba): Odia Petrol Station in Odia.
III. From Malaba/Busia destined to Kampala;
i. Health-break point: Iganga-Nakalama at Mugoya Construction Site.
ii. Seclusion points:
a) Bweyogere, Nambole parking area.
b) Kyetume, Uganda Railways Corporation and Bonded Warehouse 1.5kms off Katosi Road.
IV. From Kampala via Karuma Junction (Karuma Heritage) destined to Elegu, Oraba or Vurra,
Padea, Goli, Oraba, Lia, Panyimur land borders.
i. Seclusion & Health-break point: Wabinyonyi PWD between Wabigalo and Sasira Trading Center in Wabinyonyi Sub County Nakasongola District.
ii. Seclusion point: Karuma Heritage Park, Karuma-Pakwach Junction, Nwoya District.
iii. There after follow Seclusion and Healthbreak points for Kamdini-Elegu or KamdiniPakwach routes as in 1 and 2 above.
V. From Kampala via Mubende destined to Mpondwe, Ntoroko, Busunga land borders.
i. Seclusion & Health-break point: Mubende Kawadisa Lorry park.
ii. Health-break point: Kyenjonjo near Kyenjonjo hospital.
iii. Health-break point (those proceeding to Mpondwe): Hima near Pentecostal church (106Km) from Kyenjojo.
iv. Health-break point (those proceeding to Ntoroko and Busunga): Karugutu near the UPDF barracks and UWA facility.
VI. From Kampala via Mbarara destined to Mirama Hills, Katuna, Bunagana, Cyanika and Mpondwe land borders;
i. Seclusion & Health-break point: Lukaya Parking Yard in Lukaya Town Council in Kalungu District.
ii. Seclusion & Health-point: Rwebitete between Kyabakaazi and Akageti in Nyakashashara Sub County in Kiruhura District.
iii. Health point: Karama construction site at the junction of Ruti and the Mbarara-Ntungamo bypass. Those proceeding to Mirama Hills must drive straight to the border.
iv. Seclusion & Health point (for those proceeding to Katuna, Bunagana, Cyanika): Rwentobo road construction site in Rwahi Trading Centre, Rwentobo Sub County, Ntungamo District. (Drivers must stop for vehicle check and health point as they have to drive straight to the border)
v. Health-break point (for those proceeding to Mpondwe): Nyakabirizi PWD Playground in Ishaka/Bushenyi Municipality in Bushenyi District.
VII. From Mirama Hills via Ntungamo, Ishaka destined to Mpondwe;
Health-break point (for those approaching from Ntungamo-Kagamba junction): Playground outside Kashenyi Primary School on NtungamoKagamba Road in Bushenyi District.
VIII. From Mirama Hills via Ntungamo destined to Bunagana;
Seclusion & Health-break point (for those proceeding to Katuna, Bunagana, Cyanika): Rwentobo road construction site in Rwahi
Trading Centre, Rwentobo Sub County,
Ntungamo District. (Drivers must stop for vehicle check and health point as they have to drive straight to the border)
IX. From Kampala to Mutukula land border;
Seclusion & Health-break point: Lukaya Parking Yard in Lukaya Town Council in Kalungu District.
3. All cargo in bound and out bound transit cargo trucks should follow the same journey management plan indicated above.
4. No diversions of cargo trucks off the designated routes.
5. All other previous stop points for cargo trucks (such as Tororo, Mbale, Lira, Kamdin corner town, Mbiko, Naluwerere, Lyantonde, Namawojolo, Sanga, Ruti, Migeera, Karuma Pakwach junction, Luweero among others) are all declared illegal with immediate effect.
6. All Agencies including Ministry of Health (MoH) should operate 24 hours at Malaba, Mutukula and Busia Borders.
7. Reinforce border patrols and surveillance at all illegal entry points.
8. Freight Forwarders should work with the Ministry of Health on modalities for purchasing of Testing Kits.
9. Importers of dry cargo and fuel should consider using the railway transport for the imports and exports. Thy are encouraged to contact Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) for the arrangements.
10. Domestic trucks should have a maximum of two people (Only have one driver and the cargo owner/representative of the cargo owner).
11. Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to consider procuring of 5000 more e-seals for the regional cargo transiting through Uganda.
12. A Truck driver is required to have and use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and sanitizers at all times.
13. The District COVID-19 Task Forces are to ensure that they secure the recommended night seclusion areas (night stop-over points) and also put in place arrangements for truck drivers to access food and other amenities following the guidelines put forward by the Ministry of Health.
14. Each Truck Driver will be required to carry a Health form which he should present at the seclusion points or at any time when required to do so.
15. In the case of a mechanical breakdown, the driver should report to the next police station and the transport company must ensure that the vehicle is cleared off the road within twenty-four (24Hrs).
16. In case of imported motor vehicles, they will be delivered at the Border, fumigated and picked by the drivers to deliver them to their destinations in the hinterland
17. The operators of trucks which ply the hinterland mobilizing and transporting agricultural produce should report to the District Task Force which will guide them on how to manage their operations without violating the Ministry of Health guidelines.
