Maj. Santo Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner has ordered the closure of Cerelendo Market for flouting social distancing rules.
With over 1,000 vendors, Cerelendo Market located along Gulu – Kampala highway in Pece Division, Gulu Municipality is the second biggest market after Gulu Main Market.
According to the guidelines, all vendors in markets across the country are required to observe the four-meter physical distance as a safety measure to curtail the spread of the virus.
Lapolo instructed Edward Kiwanuka, the Town Clerk to ensure the orders are implemented effective Monday. He observed that vendors at the market have been adamant and non-compliance to the Presidential directives.
Lapolo, also the Chairperson District Security Committee and COVID-19 Gulu Task Force disclosed that Layibi Market in Layibi Division has been enlisted for closure and given three days’ grace period to comply.
Alfred Oluba, the LCIII Chairperson of Layibi Division said there is ample space for an extension at the Layibi market which vendors are exploring to avoid closure.
Meanwhile, Kevin Omona, a food vendor at Cerelendo Market regretted the decision to close the market attributing congestion at the facility to very limited space which has made it hard for the observance of physical distance among traders.
Grace Adong, a vegetable dealer in the makeshift facility says the closure was so abrupt and will undoubtedly plunge many of them into unimaginable losses given the nature of perishable goods they deal in.
A section of leaders observed that the decision of the COVID-19 Gulu Task Force has been long overdue because the two markets have been entertaining a bee-hive of activities that grossly contravened the national lockdown rules.
The News Editor ,Reporter at Kagadi Kibaale community Radio
