The President of Uganda H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has directed a ban on all sports events across the country to help stop the spread of the deadly Corona virus.

While addressing the nation on the evening of Friday. 18th. June. 2021 on the state of affairs in relation to the Covid -19 pandemic, the President said that the directive of halting all sports events takes immediate effect for the next 42 days.

“The churches, mosques, and sports sessions are congregating settings and are a source that fuels rapid virus transmission,” the President said.

He therefore directed;

 “All places of worship and sports events remain suspended for 42 days.”

Among the notable major sports events to be affected are; the Star Times Uganda Premier League which still has three/four games left per team; the Star Times Uganda FUFA Big League which is at the play offs stage for the last games to determine the third team that joins the Star Times Uganda Premier League together with Arua Hills Sports Club and Tooro United Football Club; the National Basketball League which was also nearing the playoffs stage among others.

A few weeks ago, the Present had banned public transport and movement between districts but according to his sources, it had been observed that taxis and Boda-Bodas were dropping passengers at the district boundaries in a relay system to be taken by colleagues waiting across the district boundary which in turned fueled the further spread of the virus.

The President directed the Joint Intelligence Committee to monitor compliance to ensure total observance of the SOPs and guidelines as given in his Friday State f the Nation address.

The President’s new directives aim at controlling the soaring Corona virus cases.

To date, Uganda has a total of 1564 new infections with 42 deaths according to the Ministry of Health bringing the cumulative number of cases to 68779 and 584 deaths since March. 2021 when Uganda underwent the very first nation-wide total lockdown.

 By Joseph Mary Ssempiira www.sportznow.ug writer.