By Jesse Johnson James
Maj. Santos Okot Lapolo, the Gulu Resident District Commissioner has ordered for immediate withdrawal of all movement permits citing abuse of use.
Lapolo who also doubles as the Chairman of Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce revealed that after reviewing the modalities of issuing the movement permit to the specified motorists early this month, most were found to be abusing the use of the permits.
“They are now abusing it, the time of which they are supposed to move is being abused, the number of people they are carrying is abused and the number of trucks that are on the roads has increased therefore, we have cancelled all permits.” Maj. Lapolo said.
According to Lapolo, the new permits that shall be issued after the withdrawal of the old ones will bear his signature and stamp and will be considered as the only authentic permits.
The old permits also bore signature of the Deputy Resident District Commissioner and District International Security Officer (DISO).
“There will be no other person to sign that permit other than me if it is the issue medical case, the DHO will provide that to me and I will personally sign that myself,” Lapolo added.
Alex Okoya, the L.C.II of Labour Line Parish, Pece Division in Gulu Municipality told our reporter in an interview that the abuse of the movement permits by the motorists came because the permits were issued by the carders who claim to be working in the office of the RDC and that the carders issued the permits to their friends and families.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson says over the past two weeks, private vehicles with movement permits flooded Gulu town, something that made the presidential directive on the ban of movement meaningless.
According to Okema, those who qualify for the movement permits must be given permits that expire within a specific time to avoid misuse since some are using the permits to roam around without genuine reasons.
In a bid to prevent the spread of COVID -19 in the country, President Museveni issued a ban on all public and private transport with the exception of cargo trucks, lorries, pickups, and vehicles of essential workers like bankers, health workers, the media, among others.
