What the law says about masks in Uganda
“We are going to make it mandatory for everybody who is not in his/her house to wear a cloth face mask covering all the time; the mouth and the nose,” those were the words of Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni while easing the lockdown on May 4th, 2020
Street scenes and shopping malls have changed across Uganda and Africa as well. In a matter of weeks, communities have adopted a new defence in the fight against the novel coronavirus with use of masks.
This was also emphasised by the Minister of Security Gen. Elly Tumwine, he said “enforcing the compulsory use of masks is going to be the new war front for security forces”. Before starting his address, Gen. Tuwmine threatened to arrest journalists who were not putting on masks. He said, “it can’t be that the people communicating government directives are the ones flouting them”. Apart from a few, the majority of the journalists present had masks although many were not putting them on.
Gen. Tumwine said, at all times, everyone must put on a mask for as long as they are in public. “It’s not always that the old people know everything; it’s those with experience that you should ask for advice. Take the President’s advice to wear masks or leave it at your own risk,”
In order to ensure that every journalist complies with the directive, Gen. Tumwine donated 500 masks.
Health authorities and governments around the world have urged people not to buy and wear medical masks to avoid creating a shortage for those who need them most – health workers.
In Uganda, the government is restricting the buying and selling of both surgical and N-95 masks on the open market, with surgical masks being preserved for health workers in health facilities as they are not reusable.
But what are the exceptions to the new orders?
The masks recommended by the Ministry of Health must be two-layered, with a filter material which should be inserted every morning. The masks must be washed and ironed.
Protective use of a double cloth mask with a filter material is over 95% according to a report by the Centres for Disease Control (CDC)
All adults and children above 6 years of age should endeavour to wear a mask. People with breathing difficulties should seek advice from health personnel before use of masks.
Children between 2 and 6 years should wear masks under close supervision because they are very active and may not be able to take care of the masks or observe hygiene.
Children below 2 years should not put on masks because of their small lung capacity
Masks must be worn whenever one is going to public places; markets, supermarkets, places of worship, workplaces, shops, classrooms, public transport, healthcare facilities and other areas where acceptable social distancing may not be possible
Those with cough, colds, sore throat are also required to wear masks even while they are at home
Do not wear a mask when running, jogging or doing physical exercises
It is not necessary to wear a mask when one is driving in a car alone, but have it ready for a passenger or when you are stepping out of a car
While Putting on a mask, one should hold on to the straps or loops and place it over the mouth covering the nose and chin
Avoid touching the front and the inner side of the mask; the front side is susceptible to contamination with bacteria and germs while the inside part because it is where you breathe from
The mask should be kept on every time one is talking and removed completely when one is going to eat or drink
In case one touches the front and the inner side of the mask, one should immediately sanitize and wash hands with water and soap
Remove the mask, hold the straps, fold it with the inner side inside and keep it in a clean container such as an envelope or hang it on a nail or hook in such a way that it does not touch any surface
The mask does not remove the need for other precautions against COVID-19 but only compliments other precautions including sanitising and maintaining social distancing
Ensure your mask covers the mouth, chin and nose
Wash and dry masks as well as filters daily. Remove the filter and wash it separately before washing and keep them in a dry and clean environment
Observe hand hygiene after handling the masks. Touching another person’s mask is potentially risky and requires immediate washing of hands
Avoid the use of air conditioning in cars, public places, offices during this period of COVID-19. A well ventilated place with free air circulation naturally is recommended
The Ministry of Health will publish specifications for one to buy or produce masks either homemade or factory made
The public is advised to ensure that masks must be sealed before they buy them. Do not share masks even with family members. Do not buy masks from the streets
Wearing masks is mandatory in Uganda as per the president’s directive and a statutory instrument has been created to legally bind everyone to wear a mask while in public