Nineteen people were on Tuesday, June 15, arrested in Kibirizi Sector, Nyamagabe District in a bar drinking.
Bars are among services that are still closed as part of the national measures to contain the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Police and local leaders found the group at about 10pm drinking in the bar belonging to one Jean Damascene Uwijuru, 32, located in Gataba Village, Ruhunga Cell.
The Southern region Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police (SP) Theobald Kanamugire said the violators were found drinking and gambling.
“Residents called local leaders reporting a bar, which was operating and with a big gathering inside drinking. Local leaders, after confirming the information, called the Police, they went there at about 10pm and managed to arrest 19 people but many others fled in the process,” SP Kanamugire said.
Some of the arrested violators were found hiding in different rooms of the bar.
There were previous reports that Uwijuru has been operating the bar. This is the second time he has been arrested over the same violations.
“Uwijuru was previously arrested for the same violations, educated on the government directives and health guidelines against Covid-19, and fined.
Now this is deliberate because he knows that what he was doing is wrong and prohibited and worse still operating during prohibited working hours… when everyone is required to be at home.
Basically, it is a combinations of many violations; operating a bar, social gathering and violating the curfew.”
The spokesperson warned against such errant behaviours in this critical period, which can cost some people’s lives.
He commended members of the public, who facilitate enforcement through information sharing on violators. (End)