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BACK TO BUSINESS: Museveni Eases Lockdown, MSMEs to Access Low Cost Credit

President Museveni has given the Minister of Finance two weeks to work out how MSMEs access credit. Courtesy photo

President Yoweri Museveni has eased the no movement lockdown instituted last month for 42 days.

The President said that the decision to relax the lockdown was reached after the national taskforce considered a number of factors that include;

  • The current level of COVID-19 transmission as shown by the drop in cases,
  • Positivity rate and hospital admissions,
  • Adherence to SOPs by the population,
  • Economic considerations for the country, and the wanainchi, Current coverage of vaccination and
  • Prolonged effects of the pandemic (17 months) on the wanainchi.

He says that after consulting the scientists as well as the National Planning Authority, he has revised the directives that were in place during the 42-day lockdown.

The President revealed that the Ministry of Finance working with Bank of Uganda, will mobilize low cost credit for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).

He said, government will as a first step, immediately raise UGX 100 Billion through further Budget Rationalization, and participating Financial Institutions will equally contribute UGX 100 Billion. This brings total resources available for MSMEs to UGX 200 Billion.

“The Minister of Finance will prepare and announce details and guidelines for this support within two weeks from today,” Museveni said.

He lauded a number of companies that have supplemented government efforts in dealing with the Covid-19 virus in Uganda.

He said: I would like to appreciated the following companies who have recently supported the COVID-19 response on top of those who I had earlier recognized during the first wave of the pandemic.

  1. Nile Breweries Ltd: 300 oxygen cylinders worth Ushs330m

ii. Absa Bank donated 160 oxygen cylinders and accessories.

iii. Ham Enterprises : UGX 530m for vaccines

iv. Bidco: US$100,000

v. Manufacturers who were supporting our hospitals with medical oxygen namely; BM Steel Mbarara, Casements Africa (Oxygas), Mayuge Steels, NEC/UPDF, Roofings Ltd, Steel and Tube Industries, Tembo Steels (U) Ltd, Uganda Oxygen Ltd and Pramukh Steels Ltd.

Below are the revised the directives:

1. Curfew time is maintained at 1900Hrs to 0530 Hrs. All persons except security personnel on duty and 21 those authorized to move should be in their homes.

2. Boda-Bodas are now allowed to move up to 1800hrs. Beyond 1800hrs, no Boda-Bodas should be on the road. • They are now allowed to carry one passenger at a time or cargo

3. Kikuubo should open under the following conditions:

All kiosks within corridors of buildings should be removed for purposes of decongesting pathways. • Roadside vending within Kikuubo is banned. These will be relocated to alternative venues where vending is permitted by KCCA. • Kikuubo should remain a wholesale trading centre.

4. Manufacturers open outlets outside town

5.Traders adopt E-Commerce

6. Malls, arcades can open and must strictly follow guidelines that include:

– Compliance to all SOPs

– Presence of compliance officers is a MUST.

– Corridors and access ways have to be clear

– Adequate lighting and ventilation.

– Dedicated entry and exit

– Install CCTV cameras where they are absent.

– Proper hygiene and sanitation facilities.

Related

– Registration of shop owners and attendants is a

MUST

7. Burials are restricted to a maximum of 20 people

8. Weddings were restricted to a maximum of 20 people until the population is vaccinated

9. Worship should be maintained as closed and will be reviewed after another 60 days.

10. Outdoor Sports Allowed with Strict SOPs, no speculators

11. Indoor activities like gyms, pool tables should remain closed

12.Betting, casinos remain closed

13. Artists advised to do virtual concerts

14. Bars remain closed

15. Food Restaurants remain open 

16. Saloons to be opened 

17. Saunas, steam baths remain closed

18. Schools remain Closed till kids between 12-18 years are vaccinated fully

19.Virtual Learning should continue

20.Reduction of 10% Staff to increase to 20%

21. Private vehicles allowed to move across borders with 3 occupants

22. Travellers abroad are free to move

23. UPDF to supervise screening of Travellers at the airport

24. Public transport to open on Monday 2nd August 2021 at 50%, will be reviewed in 2 weeks

25. No Air Conditioning in Public Transport

26. Food markets remain open

27. Seasonal markets remain closed

28. Conferences, workshops, seminars are banned 

29. Ministry of Finance will support low cost or small scale industries

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