Police stop private vessels connecting to Kalangala

Police in the island district of Kalangala have suspended operations of private vessels plying the Entebbe–Kalangala route to stop the spread of deadly coronavirus.

Mr Innocent Ochan, the officer-in-charge of marines in Kalangala District, on Tuesday said the new travel measure starts with immediate effect.

“We have been instructed by the commandant of marines at the police headquarters to stop all vessels carrying passengers exiting or entering Bugala, Kalangala’s main island,” Mr Ochan said in a telephone interview.

Currently, there are three private vessels plying the Entebbe-Kalangala route. They include MV Vanesa, MV Natalie and SENCATA .

“Only vessels carrying food items with not more than two or three people are allowed to sail,” he revealed.
Mr Ochan said only MV Pearl, which links passengers from Masaka to Kalangala Islands, will remain operational but under strict guidelines.

“The operator of MV Pearl has to limit the number of passengers on board and also ensure they are all sanitised before boarding the ferry,” he said. Ms Margret Ssempagama, the proprietor of SENCATA boat, confirmed receiving the directive to suspend operations.

Source: Daily Monitor