Mbale District COVID-19 Task Force has threatened to close all supermarkets in the municipality for failing to observe the Standard Operating Procedures aimed at containing the spread of the virus.

According to the task force, major supermarkets in Mbale town like Bam Shopping Center, Abrah and Sombe Supermarkets have failed to adhere to the Covid19 preventive guidelines such social distancing and ensuring that their customers and staff wash hands and wear face masks.

Lillian Nakaweesi, the Mbale Deputy Resident District Commissioner, says they have given the supermarkets a three-day’s ultimatum to work on the Standard Operating Procedures or else they close them for violating the guidelines.  

Nakaweesi says that the supermarkets and the street vendors pose a big threat to the fight against spread of Covid19.  

Benard Mujasi, the Mbale District LC V Chairperson, says whoever fails to adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures be stopped from working to save other people from infection.