Police Releases 80 Impounded Vehicles

Uganda Police Force –UPF have released 80 out of 167 vehicles impounded on Monday following President Museveni’s directive to have them returned to owners.

Security agencies under the Joint Task Force –JTF on Monday night impounded vehicles after Museveni banned private vehicles. This was after it was established that they were being used to transport people to upcountry places.

This, according to Museveni, was against the government efforts to contain the spread of Covid19. Police said the information had been received that drivers were charging members of the public 40,000 to 50,000 shillings to places such as Masaka, Jinja, Mityana or Nakasongola.

The ban on the movement of private vehicles started on Monday at 10 pm. This was just an hour after Museveni’s address that ended at 9 pm. Security forces quickly mounted roadblocks on various roads impounding several vehicles.

Nevertheless, Museveni on Tuesday backtracked on his orders and directed security forces to release impounded vehicles. He said the arrested drivers were on the way to their respective destinations when the directive was issued while others had not yet known the ban.

Patrick Onyango, the Kampala police spokesperson, said several dozens of drivers have already picked their vehicles and urged those that haven’t collected their cars to do so because no security person can defy President’s directive.

To curb Covid19, Museveni on Wednesday last week first banned buses, Boda-bodas, taxis and mini-buses. The President authorized private cars but limited them to carrying three passengers including the driver.

“We have impounded 167 motor vehicles and they are parked in various Police Stations within Kampala Metropolitan Policing Area. Most motorcyclists complied with the directives today,” Onyango said on Tuesday.

The Joints Task Force’s filed operations commanded by Maj Gen Leopold Kyanda that there is a high rate of compliance on President’s orders countrywide. Ugandans have been called upon to continue obeying and observing the Presidential directives.