Speculation as to whether there will be elections in 2021 is finally over with the Electoral Commission, the body charged with organizing elections in Uganda coming out today to announce a revised electoral roadmap.
This is not going to be a conventional election like we have known it, where candidates traverse the country campaigning by holding mass rallies to explain their manifestos. This time, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, mass gatherings of people will not be permitted in compliance with Ministry of Health directives on controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Instead of rallies and other person-to-person campaigns, candidates are going to use the media to reach their voters, according to guidelines announced by Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the Electoral Commission chairperson. He was speaking during a press conference held at the EC headquarters in Kampala.
He said that the Electoral Commission had looked at all provisions of the constitution and all allow them to undertake these unprecedented measures.
On whether candidates who are affiliated to the government and those who own radio station won’t have undue advantage over their competitors, Byabakama said he’s going to talk to the relevant authorities to ensure a level playing field.
For places which can’t pick signals from Ugandan radio stations such as those near the border like in the Sebei sub-region, Byabakama said he’s going to talk to the Uganda Communication Commission and the Ministry of Information to allow the return of community radios’ [ebizindaalo] to enable such areas to also be part of the national exercise.
Asked whether they shouldn’t have postponed the election to such a time when COVID-19 is no-longer a threat and compensate for the time lost, Byabakama said they have to operate within the remaining time-frame to comply with the dictates of the constitution that make it mandatory to organize an election within 120 days to the end of the term of a sitting president, parliament or local council.
“We have had to deal with the challenges so as not to be in breach of the constitution. Political parties have to take cognizant of that fact. The primary concern for all of us is to preserve the lives of the people,” Byabakama said. He called on political parties to ensure that in all they do, the people’s lives take centre stage. He said that they are going to ensure that these measures are complied with.cording to the revised roadmap, political parties are supposed to hold party primaries between June 22 and July 21. There will be nominations for candidates for local government elections including the Special Interest Groups between September 7 to 17.
For parliamentary elections, the nominations will be held between October 12 to 13. While presidential nominations will be held between November 2-3. Parliamentary digital campaigns will be held between October 20 to January 8 whereas presidential campaigns which will also be digital will be held between November 10 to January 8.
The Electoral Commission said that the polling period for the whole 2021 elections will be between January 10 and February 8.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission, a body charged with organizing elections in Uganda has said it will need an extra 54.6 billion Shillings to organize the 2021 general election amidst the COVID-19 pandemic threat.
Speaking today at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, Sam Rwakojo, the Secretary to the Commission said that the extra money is to cater for the new measures issued by the Ministry of Health to stop the spread of the virus.
Rwakojo said that they are in negotiation with the Ministry of Finance to see that the 54.6 billion Shillings is provided at least through a supplementary budget. If this is granted, it will bring to almost 700 billion Shillings, the cost of the 2021 elections.
Although the Electoral Commission came up with measures such as banning public rallies in favour of digital and media campaigning, it said, for voting people must be physically present at a polling station hence the need to procure protective equipment that will enable them to conduct a safe election.
Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission said that they are going to do everything to see that the people are not exposed to the virus because; “Dead people can’t vote,” Byabakama said.
The Electoral Commission, a body charged with organizing elections in Uganda has said it will need an extra 54.6 billion Shillings to organize the 2021 general election amidst the COVID-19 pandemic threat.
Speaking today at the Electoral Commission headquarters in Kampala, Sam Rwakojo, the Secretary to the Commission said that the extra money is to cater for the new measures issued by the Ministry of Health to stop the spread of the virus.
Rwakojo said that they are in negotiation with the Ministry of Finance to see that the 54.6 billion Shillings is provided at least through a supplementary budget. If this is granted, it will bring to almost 700 billion Shillings, the cost of the 2021 elections.
Although the Electoral Commission came up with measures such as banning public rallies in favour of digital and media campaigning, it said, for voting people must be physically present at a polling station hence the need to procure protective equipment that will enable them to conduct a safe election.
Justice Simon Byabakama Mugenyi, the chairperson of the Electoral Commission said that they are going to do everything to see that the people are not exposed to the virus because; “Dead people can’t vote,” Byabakama said.
The state minister for ICT and national guidance Peter Ogwang has asked brokers for taxis and buses to consider finding other jobs as what they do is simply meaningless.
He said people intending to travel always know where they are going arguing that brokers on the other hand instead cause confusion and journey delays by claiming ownership of travelers at their operation area.
Minister Ogwang was speaking recently to the Bukedea district covid 19 task while emphasizing guidelines to be followed as lockdown is being eased by the government.
He said other than crowding at taxi and bus stops while lamenting to the government to ease lockdown, brokers should instead use the period to find something else meaningful enough to do.
“These taxi and bus touts, what is your job anyway. I understand that they are also crying out to the government to allow them to work but that is no work, my friends this is the time to find something meaningful to do,”Mr. Ogwang said.
He added, “Everyone intending to travel knows where they are going.”
The minister’s statement raised mixed feelings among residents of Bukedea.
Julius Akol a taxi broker at Mbale stage said most of them are on the road because they do not have jobs.
“The minister should intead be ashamed of himself because it is the government he serves that has failed to provide jobs for the youth,” Mr. Akol, a diploma holder, said.
Fatuma Emuria, a shop keeper in Bukedea, said the government should ban brokers from operating since many also steal travelers’ property.
“A broker sometime back plucked off my hair and ran away with my property while pretending to put it in the taxi,” Ms Emuria said.
But Mr. Ali Emong, a taxi driver, says brokers help ease their work by sorting passengers.
“Some of these people like old women do not know where they are going so these brokers help guide them and give drivers instructions on where to drop them off,” Mr. Emong said
Meanwhile the minister also highlighted that a number of travel restrictions were still standing as the government monitors the continued rise in numbers of covid 19 cases in the country.
“Boda boda riders are not allowed to carry people and I understand that some people are mobilizing them to demonstrate in Kampala and other towns, why do you want to force things. Do you want to die?”Mr. Ogwang questioned.
He also encouraged passengers in taxis and buses to wear face masks urging drivers and conductors to follow the standard operation procedures of using hand sanitizer and maintaining half the number of travelers.
The minister then cautioned people against gathering at funerals saying it will escalate community spread of covid 19.
“I understand that burials have gone back to normal. That is very dangerous bearing in mind that relatives, friends and wellwishers from different places will converge,” Mr. Ogwang said.
…..sometimes the districts are too big to deal with such issues. We will have to discuss this idea with the other MPs, where the MP is the Chairperson and the accounting officer is the sub county chief.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni giving keynote address during a meeting with members of parliament representatives at state house Entebbe on 5th May , 2020 photo by. PPU
President Museveni has today agreed with the proposal of forming COVID-19 constituency task forces, but guided that the idea would further be discussed with the caucus and other Members of Parliament before it is put into effect.
The President was today meeting a committee of Members of Parliament comprising of representatives from NRM executive caucus and Parliamentary Commissioners led by Government Chief Whip, Hon. Ruth Nankabirwa.
“The idea of constituency task force can be discussed because sometimes the districts are too big to deal with such issues. We will have to discuss this idea with the other MPs, where the MP is the Chairperson and the accounting officer is the sub county chief. I totally agree with what has been pointed out and am aware that when the lock-down was announced, students and other people from the constituency invaded MPs homes because they wanted help with many things and so the MPs need the support, which should be institionalized. I welcome this proposal of the constituency task force,” he said.
The proposal sought to establish a constituency task force where Members of Parliament can directly be involved in interventions targeting their areas because the districts are too big to reach out to people’s needs and might not necessarily put resources to where they are needed. It also sought for the constitutional task force to be institutionalized and made a permanent structure for future initiatives and emergencies.
The proposal also noted that the aim of the Constitutional Task Force would be formulated with the aim of helping handle COVID-19 and post COVID-19 related cases, maintain linkages with the district and national COVID-19 task forces, mobilize and manage (financial and material) resources for the COVID interventions, and create awareness, behavioral change and capacity building for the constituents during the crisis.
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni chairs a meeting with members of parliament representatives at state house Entebbe on 5th May 2020 photo by. PPU
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni poses for a photo with members of parliament representatives at state house Entebbe on 5th May , 2020 photo by. PPU
The Government Chief Whip who is also the Woman MP for Kiboga district Hon. Ruth Nankabira appreciated President Museveni for having accepted the proposal, saying that this would help them to better serve, help and develop their constituencies during such a crisis.
“We came with this petition to the President such that he understands the pressures that we face during such a crisis. When the lockdown was announced the students who were stranded, people at the borders ran to their Members of Parliament, up to now the MPs are still receiving phone calls, medication and other things. I am glad that the President has listened to us and accepted our proposal,” she said.
The COVID-19 outbreak has been placing unprecedented strains on sophisticated health systems in Europe and Asia, with overstretched medical staff struggling to treat their patients and intensive care facilities overwhelmed in rich countries. With cases rising in Africa, concerns are increasing on the impact on fragile health systems there. This crisis is already exposing glaring inequalities between the rich and the poor in the developed world, and it is about to reflect even greater inequalities between the North and the South.
This health crisis, like others, is hitting the poorest and the most vulnerable the hardest, especially in Africa. What does social distancing mean in Africa’s congested townships, its packed markets and buses. How will people wash their hands several times a day to protect themselves from the virus without having access to water and basic sanitation? And what does that mean for women and girls who bear the daily burden of hauling water from rivers and wells for their households? How will a mother choose between going to work to put food on the table or staying at home with a cough or a fever? How do we tell informal workers, taxi drivers and all those who operate in the platform economy and live hand-to-mouth not to go to work?
We need to act now! There are four things we must do urgently: scale up testing and isolate infected people and communities, invest in health and protect our healthcare workers, focus on the community to ensure that the community response is strong, and have a constant supply chain.
The Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 10 million testing kits will be necessary to respond to COVID-19 effectively over the next three months. Hundreds of millions of personal protective items such as face masks, protective gowns and gloves will also be needed. At a time when there is a global demand for these medical supplies, Africa must not be left behind. As we have seen in other countries, the best way to reduce infections and deaths is to test, treat and isolate infected people and communities to contain the virus. So, the supply of testing equipment and access to testing must be the priority.
A lack of investment in Africa’s social infrastructure, including in its health systems, mounting debt and massive corporate tax dodging has left the continent ill-prepared to face this coming emergency. Without publicly provided health care, people are left exposed to disease. User fees for accessing health services deny ordinary people their right to health. This is the time to abolish them. Rich countries are rightly pumping billions of dollars into their own economies and social security systems to keep people and businesses afloat, but will there be massive coordinated international financial support for the developing countries to fight Covid-19? We are in this together. Nothing but a global response will defeat this aggressive virus.
In responding to the HIV epidemic, community-led services have been core to our most important advances in preventing new infections and getting people on treatment. In the response to COVID-19, communities will no doubt step into the breach and public health authorities must engage with them now and build trust for the upcoming battle. We will not win without communities. It is communities who will design and implement their own context specific prevention measures, in markets, in buses, at funerals. As we have seen in the AIDS response, it will most often be women who will lead the charge in terms of caring for the sick and making sure that their children and communities are as safe as possible. We must ensure that resources flow to them so that they can carry on their important work, that they are fairly compensated and that their families are financially secure.
And the response must respect the human rights of the most vulnerable. There have already been incidents all over the world where individuals or communities are being blamed for the virus. This must stop. It’s wrong and counter-productive for the wider public good. Let us learn the lessons of the AIDS response and know that stigma and discrimination will hold us back in getting to grips with this pandemic.
In addition, to make sure that medicines continue to reach people in need, we must ensure the security of the global supply chain in this period. UNAIDS is working closely with all its partners to make sure that essential medicines and medical supplies continue to get to where they are most needed. We will continue to do so.
I wish we were in a different place. That everyone had the right to health and that we were in a stronger position to face this new challenge. That debate will continue and my voice will stay strong. For now, we must do the best we can for our communities.
Let us help and support each other during this time – we are all in this together and we will beat this virus through solidarity, compassion, and kindness.
A decade of hope starts to fade for Serere people as government is yet to deliver promised ferry. Government in 2009 promised to provide a ferry on Lake Kyoga to ease water transport and help boost business among Teso, Busoga and Lango sub-regions.
By David Oduut
Residents of Serere district have faulted the government for failing to deliver a ferry once promised to link the district with the other regions.
Government in 2009 promised to provide a ferry on Lake Kyoga to ease water transport and help boost business among Teso, Busoga and Lango sub-regions.
The ferry if provided would link landing sites including Bukungu in Kamuli, Kagwara in Soroti, Bugondo in Serere and Okile in Kaberamaido as well as Muntu in Amolatar, Lwampanga in Lira and Namasale in Nakasongola.
In 2016 while campaigning in Teso, President Museveni again made mention of the same but until now the ferry has not yet been delivered.
Speaking to this blog in an interview, residents said the lack of a ferry has made it difficult for people in Serere to conduct business with the districts across the lake.
Mr. Julius Amedi a resident of Osamito village in Labor Sub County accused the government of making empty promises adding that businessmen risk their lives every day with small boats while plying the lake.
“Government has delayed to fulfill its pledge of putting a ferry on the lake as promised, now it appears the government is simply lying to us,” Mr Amedi said.
Currently many people rely on small canoes which have killed several in the past but still remain the only way of transport across the lake. Businessmen who avoid the risk of drowning on the lake travel by road up to over 200 kilometers to get to Busoga instead of only 20 kilometers by water.
Serere businessmen envy crossing to the districts of Buikwe and Kamuli to buy cattle and silverfish as well as produce business. While those in Busoga also want Cassava, maize, and millet from Teso sub-region.
Mr. Moses Atwau a resident of Opunoi village is disappointed with the government after it kept them waiting for over 10 years. He said he cheated death in 2013 after the boat he was traveling in capsized; luckily he and five others were able to swim to safety.
“But I lost my capital for cattle trade in the process as I did not know where the money fell,” Mr. Atwau said.
Mr. Okiria John Moses the general secretary Local council one Opunoi village in Labor Sub County said local authorities recently banned the use of small boats and canoes on the lack. This he said has affected the movement of traders from either side of the lake.
“There is only one boat that is allowed to cross the lake and it is currently overwhelmed with the number of passengers. So as we speak many people especially women who deal in silverfish have grounded their business because they cannot cross the lake to Kamuli and Buikwe districts where they buy them from,” Mr. Okiria said.
He urged government to expedite the process of availing them with a ferry so as to ease transportation on the lake.
Joseph Opit Okojo the Local Council five chairperson Serere said officials from the ministry of water and transport at the end of last year visited Bugondo and Kagwara landing sites to allegedly carry out an assessment of where to put a dock but have since not given feedback.
“As of now, I do not have any information because by last three months when I communicated to Kampala they told me that they were already on procurement. Certainly as a leader and businessman, the government needs to respond now because there will be no explanation it will be able to give people (now that the political season is setting in).
Police sniffer dog in action in Bukedea. PHOTO BY DAVID ODUUT
There was drama in Kanyanga village; Malera Sub County in Bukedea district this morning after a police sniffer dog arrested a man a day after his own bull was also stolen
Edison Okwalinga yesterday sought services of a police sniffer dog to trace for people who stole his bull on Sunday night and his neighbor Francis Ecirat was arrested in the process.
However this morning his brother Samson Okwalinga also hired the police dog after his cow and bull also went missing last night.
To the disbelief of the family and neighbors, the dog went and took hold of Okwalinga, making him the prime suspect in the theft of two animals.
According to Steven Okwaput the LC1 Chairman Kanyanga, Okwalinga could have stolen the animals of his brother as revenge for his lost bull.
Okwaput says that villagers wanted to lynch him but police prevailed over them and took him to Malera police post where he together with Ecirat who stole his bull on Sunday are currently detained.
The LC1 however wondered how the stolen animals disapered without trace in a short period of time adding that those arrested could be part of a bigger racket stealing livestock in Bukedea district.
Adeng Mika the LC1 chairman is said to have beaten up his vice chairperson Micheal Opolot after finding him violating presidential directives in the fight against the spread of Coronavirus. He reportedly got him chairing a drinking spree with 17 people at the home of a one Susan Aina. The incident took place at around 10 O’clock Wednesday.
By David Oduut
There was shock in Akero village, Bukedea Sub County in Bukedea district on Wednesday after the area local council one chairperson allegedly assaulted his deputy for spearheading a large group of people to drink alcohol in the village.
Adeng Mika the LC1 chairman is said to have beaten up his vice chairperson Micheal Opolot after finding him chairing a drinking spree with 17 people at the home of a one Susan Aina. The incident took place at around 10 O’clock Wednesday morning.
Locals told this newspaper that the village chairperson was tipped off by one his informers that his vice chairperson was involved with others to drink alcohol.
“The vice chairperson together with at least 16 others had gone to help an old woman to hoist the roof onto her grass thatched house so in return she gave them ajon (a local brew in Teso) as appreciation,” Mr. John Bosco Ojojo a resident told Oduut Daily News Dose.
He said the chairperson lashed his deputy together with the owner of the brew after others he was got drinking with took off.
“He is a local leader who is quick in unleashing the whip so others raised their heels as soon as they saw him arrive,” Mr. Ojojo narrated.
According the LC one chairperson, he got Opolot gathered with a large number of people to drink alcohol which was contrary to presidential directives on social distancing as the country and the world battle the spread of Corona virus disease.
He told this newspaper that he got angered after those who were drinking with Opolot took off upon seeing him while his vice remained at the pot still sucking on the tube without any bother.
He however denied assaulting him saying that he only offered him a word of caution.
“I only cautioned him, the claims on beating my vice is just propelled by those who want to politicize the matter,” Mr. Adeng said before adding that local leaders should be the first to observe measures on preventing the spread of covid 19 and as well follow directives issued by government on the same.
However Micheal Opolot told Mama Bukedea radio that his superior assaulted him using his own tire-made shoe commonly known as lugabire. He says the LC1 boss was faulting him of settling another assault case regarding two teenage boys in the village.
Bodaboda riders wait for business last year before Coronavirus pandemic struck forcing a lock down which has barred their movement
“Due to the lockdown, most of these Bodaboda boys do not have a side income but also have a high a petite for women. You realize that during the current restriction on their movement many of them are finding a challenge to support their families,” Mr Opolot said.
By David Oduut
There was shock in Atutur Sub County in Kumi district after a boda boda rider reportedly locked up his home and fled leaving his two wives and children stranded without shelter and food.
The rider identified as Simon Omeja a resident of Kapokin village who operates at a stage in Atutur trading center is said to have bolted doors at his home on Wednesday and asked his women and children to leave before he also left to unknown destination.
His two women; Ms Amuria Jesca Florence has one child while the other Ms Adie Jennifer has three children. There are also three other children left by his first wife who fled recently after family disagreements.
The Kapokin village chairman Mr. Martin Opolot said the women and children are currently languishing in Atutur trading center without any help.
“I have raised the matter to the police family and child protection unit at Kumi central police station to help resolve this matter as these people are clearly suffering,” Mr. Opolot said.
The LC1 attributed the matter to the curfew which has restricted Bodaboda riders from earning income to support their families.
“Due to the lockdown, most of these Bodaboda boys do not have a side income but also have a high a petite for women. You realize that during the current restriction on their movement many of them are finding a challenge to support their families,” Mr Opolot said.
He appealed to government to also support Bodaboda riders and the juwakalis (other hand to mouth earners) in rural parts of the country with relief food to help feed their families during the ongoing curfew.
Jesca Florence Amuria one of the women when contacted by this blog said their husband started by accusing them of destroying his underwear. But she said that the underlying issue could be the difficulty he was facing in raising the money to feed the family.
Ms Amuria, a woman who crossed from another botched marriage said their husband has been relying on his motorcycle to buy family food.
“I think it is the curfew bearing down on him now because it is only that bajaj motorcycle that has been his source of income,” Ms Amuria narrated.
Meanwhile by press time the police in Atutur had managed to track down Mr. Omeja and they were set to hand him over to the family and child protection unit at Kumi central police station.
President Museveni while addressing the nation on Wednesday directed that no boda-bodas are to be seen on the roads after 2 p.m.
This came as an additional measure to restrict the movement of Bodaboda riders after government also recently restricted motorcycles to operate while only delivering cargo and not to carry passengers.
This has seen Bodaboda business especially in rural areas shrink due to limited or general lack of customers.
The woman Member of Parliament for Bukedea district Honorable Anita Among has given out soap to households in Kachumbala constituency as a measure to boost hand washing among locals to fight the spread of coronavirus disease. Construction company Dott services also boosted her humanitarian campaign by providing some cartons of soap.
For the past two days a team from Anita foundation has been walking door to door in all the villages in Kachumbala to deliver the soap, and this has excited locals. The campaign is set to cover the entire district.
Speaking to this blog at Akwarikwar sub county, locals who could not hide their excitement, thanked honorable Anita for offering them support and being mindful of their health.
“Proper hand washing has been a challenge in this area because people have been economizing soap as they feared for the lock-down but we are now thankful that Honorable Anita has come to our rescue,” Fred Bushikoma the local council two chairperson said.
He however added that people in his area are still adamant to observe social distancing as many converge at trading centers to socialist and drink in bars in the evening. He has then asked for the intervention of security to help people stay home.
Meanwhile, Mr Sinu the site manager Dott services at Akwarikwar quarry says they offered to help Honorable Anita to give soap because they also care about the health of her voters.
“It is important that the district woman member of parliament is encounraging her people to wash hands and stay home. As Dott services, we are offering help with soap and advise that people shoul wash hand and avoid shaking hands,” Mr Sinu said.
According to the world Health Organization, regularly and thoroughly washing your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or with soap and water kills coronavirus that may be on your hands.
Other measures include maintaining at least 1 metre or 3 feet distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
This is because: when someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading
Follow the guidance outlined above.
Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
The confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) patients in Uganda more than doubled within two days after hitting the 30 mark on Saturday.
Doctors prepare to attend to cases of Covid 19 in Entebbe recently. BBC PHOTO
On Friday, the confirmed cases moved from 14 to 18, before jumping to 23. On Saturday night, the Ministry of Health in a tweet announced that the confirmed cases had reached 30.
However, the ministry did not give details of the travel history of the latest seven patients.
“To date a total of 1,175 cases are under follow up; 876 of these are under institutional quarantine while 299 are under self-quarantine. A total of 1,596 high risk travellers have completed their 14 days of follow-up and have been issued with certificates of completion of the mandatory quarantine,” the ministry said in a statement hours before announcing the seven cases.
7 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Uganda today, Saturday 28 March 2020. This brings the total to 30 confirmed cases in the country. Out of 225 samples run today, 218 samples have tested negative for COVID-19.
— Ministry of Health- Uganda (@MinofHealthUG) March 28, 2020
Earlier in the day, President Museveni said although the figures were increasing, he was happy to see that the majority of the people who returned from Dubai and other places (227) were negative.
“Nevertheless, the medical teams will trace all the contacts and check on them. We may have to take additional drastic measures,” the President said in a tweet.
Measures
President Museveni has since banned public transport and stopped the sale of non-food items in markets in a bid to halt the spread of the virus. The President also banned both incoming and outgoing travel as well as suspending all passenger flights, save for emergency and cargo ones. Cargo trucks, not carrying more than three passengers are also free to move.
The Ministry of Health has confirmed five new cases of COVID-19 in the country.
Dr. Joyce Moriku said the five new cases bring the total number of confirmed patients to 14.
The five people who confirmed positive, include the two of the six chinese that were got in Zombo.
“They cannot be presented in court for fear of further spread,” the Minister said.
“Dear Ugandans, this is a very critical moment for everyone as the number of positive cases keeps scaling up. Five more people have been confirmed positive, including two of the six Chinese that were got in Zombo. They cannot be presented in court for fear of further spread,” she tweeted on Wednesday afternoon.
So far, we have 12 Ugandans and two Chinese who have tested positive for the virus.
The country has since banned all public gatherings as well as schools, bars and night clubs.
Uganda has also banned all travels to the East African country and stopped all outgoing movements.
Only emmergency landing by plane will be allowed on the Ugandan soil, President Museveni announced on Saturday last week
“The fact that Atutur hospital staff took off to avoid handling a suspected corona case on Monday is a clear indicator that they have not been prepared to handle such cases,” the doctor said.
A banner carrying corona virus safety messages INTERNET PHOTO
Authorities in Kumi district have said that the suspected corona virus that has been in isolation at Atutur hospital has been transferred to Soroti.
Patients fled Atutur Hospital yesterday after a 30 year old woman suspected to be having corona virus was taken to the facility. Medical workers also took off; but up to now her status has not yet been ascertained.
According to Frank Olaboro the Chief Administrative officer Kumi, Atutur hospital lacks capacity to handle corona virus cases due to lack of equipment and expertise from the medical personnel.
He says the district emergency team met this morning and resolved that the suspect who has been in isolation for the last 18 hours be taken to Soroti where there is a quarantine centre for the virus cases in Teso region.
By press time an ambulance had already left with the suspect whom medics at Atutur hospital say had showed some Corona-like symptoms.
“The situation is that the referral center for Teso is Soroti so as a facilty we were merely a temporal isolation point but we have taken her to Soroti regional isolation center,” Mr Olaboro told this blogger on phone.
He said the district medical team did not ascertain whether the suspect was positive or not as the it does not have capacity and expertise to handle Corona virus cases.
Meanwhile, the CAO says medical services have resumed in Atutur hospital following the tension caused yesterday by the admission of the suspected corona virus patient.
“It is obvious that such a case can cause tension at the health facility since it is ill prepared to handle them but I can assure you that services have resumed normally at the health facility with medical workers fully at work,” CAO Olaboro said.
Medical workers prepare to screen Covid 19 patients at Entebbe INTERNET PHOTO
Medical workers are ignorant on Covid 19
A doctor at Atutur hospital who preferred anonymity because of protocol issues feared that most health facilities and their staff in Teso sub region are not in anyway equipped to handed cases of Corona virus if there is an outbreak adding that the medical personnel in the region has also not been trained to manage the disease.
“The fact that Atutur hospital staff took off to avoid handling a suspected corona case on Monday is a clear indicator that they have not been prepared to handle such cases,” the doctor said.
He added that as cases of those testing positive in the country keeps growing, government needs to prepare medical staff across the country to tackle the disease once it explodes to other areas.
“Right now government has concentrated its effort at the airport and border points but I can assure you that it will be real disaster once the disease spreads to the villages because medical staff at health facilities will then be running away for their lives instead of helping patients. This is because this is a new disease and nobody is bothering to take them though on what to do once a patient is laid on the bed,” The doctor said.
Additional reporting on how far scientists have come with the virus
By David Oduut
There was panic in Atutur hospital in Kumi district Monday afternoon as patients fled the facility after a suspected case of Covid 19 was taken to the hospital. Medical personnel who were on duty at the facility were also rattled after receiving the suspect.
The suspect a 30 year old woman from Basaar ward in Kumi Municipality was rushed to the hospital on Monday afternoon.
She has been selling goats to south Sudan but returned to the country on Friday last week.
It is alleged that upon her return, she revealed to locals Monday morning that the man she had been staying with in south Sudan died a few days ago due to Corona Virus.
This prompted locals to report her to the authorities in Kumi municipality who first took her to Kumi Health center where medical workers scattered to safety upon seeing her.
Authorities then took her to Atutur general hospital but upon arrival, patients there also wasted no time and also dispersed at terific speed fearing that they could contract the disease.
“I saw some patients attempt to jump over the fence with canulars still in their hands, they were visibly terified,” James Amukun a boda boda rider at Atutur stage said.
“People you should call an ambulance immediately because much as I am a nurse I also have little children to take care of, please!” This blogger heard a nurse complain before medical colleagues who were gathered a hospital corner with each glad on a facemask and a pair of hand gloves.
Betty Ilepus a mother whose baby had been admitted with severe malaria at the facility met this blogger at the gate of the hospital while fleeing with her on the shoulder said: “I rather take my baby elsewhere than stay here and die together with her.”
While Michael Omolo who was also taking care of his wife at the hospital said that the lack of protective gear for attendants and patients at the facility is a clear indicator that a single case could spread the disease to the entire population at the health facility.
“If it turns out that the woman is truly sick, and then we shall all be at risk, the best is to leave her alone here as we seek medical assistance elsewhere.” Mr. Omolo said adding that he is transferring his sick wife to Mbale regional referral hospital.
PATIENT ATTENDANTS STRANDED DUE TO CORONA VIRUS
The exodus of the patients at Atutur hospital prompted a mob that descended at the health facility as they sought to lynch the suspect for allegedly bringing the disease to the village.
But police at health facility managed to disperse it.
Dr. Isaac Omare the medical officer in charge Atutur general hospital said that much as the suspect’s status has not yet been ascertained, she had been isolated in a special quarantine room which is also guarded to safeguard her from the mob.
Dr. Omare said that samples from the suspect have also been taken to Princes Diana health center four in Soroti district for testing.
Meanwhile, Dr. Omare acknowledged the lack of capacity by Atutur hospital to handle corona virus cases.
“I should admit that we lack enough protective gears for both patients and staff and inadequate space for isolation of cases,” Dr. Omare said.
Uganda confirmed its first case of Corona virus on Saturday night with the president announcing stringent measures of controlling the spread of the disease including closing of all borders and encouraging locals to stay home and exercise social distancing.
Coronavirus: How close are we to a vaccine or drug?
It will, almost inevitably, be less successful in older people. This is not because of the vaccine itself, but aged immune systems do not respond as well to immunisation. We see this every year with the flu jab.
Will there be side effects?
All medicines, even common pain-killers, have side effects. But without clinical trials it is impossible to know what the side effects of an experimental vaccine may be.
This is something on which regulators will want to keep a close eye.
Who would get a vaccine?
If a vaccine is developed then there will be a limited supply, at least in the early stages so it will be important to prioritise.
Healthcare workers who come into contact with Covid-19 patients would be at the top of the list. The disease is most deadly in older people so they would be a priority if the vaccine was effective in this age group. However, it might be better to vaccinate those who live with or care for the elderly instead.
What about drugs?
Doctors are testing current anti-viral drugs to see if they work against coronavirus. This speeds up research as they are known to be safe to give to people.
Trials are taking place in hospitals in affected countries, but, in February, Dr Bruce Aylward from the World Health Organization, said: “There’s only one drug right now that we think may have real efficacy and that’s remdesivir.”
It was developed as an Ebola drug, but also seems to be able to kill a wide variety of viruses. However, we are still waiting on trial results.
They did not improve recovery, reduce deaths or lower levels of the coronavirus in patients with serious Covid-19. However, as the trial was conducted in extremely sick patients (nearly a quarter died) it may have been too late in the infection for the drugs to work.
There is also much interest in an old and cheap anti-malarial drug called chloroquine. Laboratory tests have shown it can kill the virus, but once again we are waiting for results when it is given to patients. Trials are taking place in the US and other countries.
Until a vaccine or treatment is ready what can I do?
Vaccines prevent infections and the best way of doing that at the moment is good hygiene.
If you are infected by coronavirus, then for most people it would be mild and can be treated at home with bed-rest, paracetamol and plenty of fluids. Some patients may develop more severe disease and need hospital treatment.
How do you create a vaccine?
Vaccines harmlessly show viruses or bacteria (or even small parts of them) to the immune system. The body’s defences recognise them as an invader and then learn how to fight it.
Then if the body is ever exposed for real, it already knows how to fight the infection.
Media captionEpidemic v pandemic: What’s the difference?
The main method of vaccination for decades has been to use the original virus.
The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is made by using weakened versions of those viruses that cannot cause a full-blown infection. The seasonal flu jab is made by taking the main strains of flu doing the rounds and completely disabling them.
The work on a new coronavirus vaccine is using newer, and less tested, approaches called “plug and play” vaccines. Because we know the genetic code of the new coronavirus, Sars-CoV-2, we now have the complete blueprint for building that virus.
Some vaccine scientists are lifting small sections of the coronavirus’s genetic code and putting it into other, completely harmless, viruses.
Image captionA Russian lab tests for infection with the Covid-19 coronavirus
Now you can “infect” someone with the harmless bug and in theory give some immunity against infection.
Other groups are using pieces of raw genetic code (either DNA or RNA depending on the approach) which, once injected into the body, should start producing bits of viral proteins which the immune system again can learn to fight.
Yonas Tegegn Woldemariam, the World Health Organisation Representative to Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja, minister of state for health in charge of general duties, Aceng and health ministry PS Dr Diana Atwine at a press conference in Kampala on Sunday morning. Photo by Ivan Kabuye/NEW VISION
UGANDA has registered the first case of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a 36-year-old male who arrived from Dubai on Saturday aboard Ethiopian Airlines at 2:00am. The announcement was made on Sunday morning by the minister of health, Dr Ruth Aceng, from Lourdel Towers, in Kampala. The minister explained: “The patient was intercepted at Entebbe International Airport, on his return from Dubai, where he had travelled on March 17, 2020 (four days ago) for business purposes. At the time of his travel, he was in good health. He is a resident of Kibuli, Kagungulu zone, Kampala.” “During the screening process at the airport, his temperature was 38.7. This prompted the health teams to isolate him at the airport for further follow-up. Subsequent temperatures taken at intervals of 30 minutes and one hour remained the same. He was evacuated to Entebbe Grade B Hospital for further follow up where a nasal swab was taken for analysis,” she told the media. She added: “The confirmed case presented with high fever and poor appetite. He is not coughing neither did he have flu. However, the persistent fever prompted the health workers to isolate him. “ “His nasal swab samples were sent to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for analysis. Results from UVRI showed the sample is positive for COVID-19.”
“The passenger manifest has been retrieved and all contacts are known as we are in possession of their passports of all travelers who came on that plane,” she explained. “All the passengers on the plane have been quarantined.” She also explained that to-date a total of 1,827 travelers including Ugandans and others travelling back home from identified high-risk countries for purposes of follow up. “About 827 are completing self-quarantine while about 1,000 are under quarantine,” she explained.
“I discovered that much as women are largely bread winners in most families in Bukedea, very few families are willing to invest in them and the trend has continued to be so to the level that households withdraw these girls from school in order to marry them off,” Mr. Aisia said.
By David Oduut
When 16 year old Rose Adeke dropped out of school in 2013 due to lack of school fees, her hopes of becoming a model and fashion designer were dashed. And after staying at home for two years, the senior three student got pregnant and her future seemed to fully blur away.
“I was so disappointed that I had become pregnant because I knew such was dragging me into early marriage which was a guaranteed padlock to keep me out of achieving my dream forever,” Ms Adeke said.
Her fears were cast a few days later when her parents both peasants from Airogo village in Kachumbala Sub County, broke the sad news that they were to force her boyfriend to pay dowry and have her join him as his wife.
“And that was when I had considered taking my own life because I had not prepared to get married much as I had gotten pregnant,” Ms Adeke said.
Adeke modeling the wedding gown she made recently. This was during her graduation day after completing a tailoring course. PHOTO BY DAVID ODUUT
Unlike Adeke who had earlier managed to get to secondary school level, 20 year old Martha Amodan from Amujeju village, Akakaat parish, Kamutur Sub County only had to leave school after sitting her primary leaving examinations in 2015.
“I thereafter had to stay home for two years to help my parents in garden work” Ms Amodan said.
These girls have witnessed the unfriendly side of the world, but they are also among the few lucky ones who have a positive story to tell thanks to a local non government organization Apoloo Na Angor that has been empowering girls who dropped out of school in Bukedea district.
Speaking to this website during their eighth graduation ceremony held recently, the girls while beaming with smiles could not hide their excitement after completing life skills courses in tailoring, catering and baking and hairdressing.
Adeke was graduating with class two certificate of tailoring and fashion design together with 15 of her friends. While Amodan was wobbling around with a gown after graduating with a certificate in catering together with 19 year old Lydia Mugaba.
“I can now make variety of different cloth attires such as office attire, party dresses, wedding gowns, children’s wear and graduation wear among others. This has made me regain my pride,” Ms Adeke said while modeling her beautiful white wedding dress.
While Amodan was also holding back tears of joy urging parents not to rush girls into marriage but help them attain their dreams.
“I did not dream of becoming a cook but at least this training has helped me to understand what a cateress is expected of, I have learnt preparation of various dish meals including; three, four and five course meals,”the 20 year old said.
Girls who had dropped out of school model their gowns after completing a tailoring course. PHOTO DAVID ODUUT
According to Belinda A. Oyoo the caretaker principal at Apoolo na Angor (laterally translated as the growth of Women), their target is to empower young women to become financially independent and supportive to their families such that they can be able to fulfil their children’s dreams in future.
She said the organization has also set up a kindergarten to take care of children of those young mothers as they pursue skills training.
Moses Aisia the Managing Director Apoolo na Angor said the dream to support young girls started in 2009 when he left teaching to join social work.
“I discovered that much as women are largely bread winners in most families in Bukedea, very few families are willing to invest in them and the trend has continued to be so to the level that households withdraw these girls from school in order to marry them off,” Mr. Aisia said.
He said since he started, the organization has so far empowered at least 700 girls and that many are doing very well and are challenging men in their localities.
“Many have become successful businesswomen, others are now district councilors and that is the level of empowerment we are talking about here,” Mr. Aisia said adding that apart from giving them hand skills, they also train them on entrepreneurship and sustainable agriculture.
“Many could have given up in life because society including their parents attacked them for getting pregnant at school but while here we train them to forget about their past and work on how best they can become in society,” Mr. Aisa said.
He wants government to fully incorporate skills and technical education at lower levels of education such that those that drop out of school at early stages will not be left with a life to wonder.
Hundreds still need help
Worse is the fact that in Bukedea district once girls drop out of school, many do not return to class as they become immediate candidates of marriage even at a tender age.
As statistics has it, a total of 31669 girls below the age 15 years were not in school by 2018 and none among them had completed senior four.
To paint a picture of where they end up at, data at Bukedea District Health records Office indicate that at least 290 underage girls enroll for antenatal services at health facilities in the district every after three months.
According to a study conducted by Build Africa in 2013 on educational performance in Bukedea, there had been 60 per cent dropout cases among girls in the district most of whom could not continue with education due to early marriages and pregnancy.
The survey indicates that lack of financial resources at household level to support children remain in school is one the factors luring girls to early marriages and teenage pregnancies. Relatedly, the inability of children themselves to cope with demands of staying in school is one of the causes to increased school dropout incidences in Bukedea District.
Micheal Obuya the Bukedea district inspector of school said the district needs to unlock the mindset among parents who want to marry off girls at a tender age.
He also encouraged parents to take back girls who get pregnant back to school and emphasized a need for parents and learners in the district to embrace skills and technical education.
In 2003, a 28-year-old carpenter and construction worker Moses Igira returned home from Bukedea town council where he was roofing a commercial house with his friends. Igira was a man quick in making jokes and loved to laugh but in the evening of 17th January 2003, things were different, he had instead returned while complaining of a stomach upset.
Little did the family members know that they were seeing him for the last time. At midnight on the same day, he was rolling and coiling in unbearable pain and by 7 am on January 18 th , there was sore wailing at his home for he was a lifeless man.
The autopsy report read during his burial indicated that a chemical had eaten up his intestines and tore his liver, a sign that he had died as a result of poisoning.
“He left behind two widows and five orphans who have since struggled with life after losing a husband, father and breadwinner,” a family member who did not want to be named said before adding, “the children of the late have not been able to attain proper education since there is no one to pay their school fees.”
How Igira was poisoned!
Margarita Olepus, the mother to the late reveals that on the fateful day, her son had set out to roof a commercial house in Bukedea town which he had won a tender to construct. The late, together with five of his workers (whom she declined to name) arrived at work and as usual took roles at the site. “However, it is at lunch time that my son sent his workers ahead of him to a restaurant where they had meals. Knowing that he usually started by having a cup of milk before eating his lunch, two of his workers hired the restaurant attendant with sh80,000 to laze the milk with poison,” 83- year-old Olepus said.
“They hurried back to the site after witnessing him take a few sips of the poisoned milk,” Ms Olepus said while looking into space with eyes agonizing the pain of holding together the loss of her last born.
Much as it is 17 years since he passed away, she is still sobbing that her son was killed by jealous workers who did not like him to thrive and make orders. Such stories have haunted Bukedea district for the past twenty years with almost every family having a different testimony of having lost a member or relative to food poisoning. In 2010, poison reportedly ‘walked’ into Bukedea district headquarters after a young Principal Personnel Officer at the district, Samuel Opio died after eating food suspected to have been poisoned at a restaurant in Bukedea town; and it is alleged that Opio was also killed due to work- related wrangles.
Along the years the district leaders together with security operatives have held fire response approach towards addressing the issue. They notably make threatening utterances against the vise regrettably mostly at burial places of victims and thereafter do little to seek and punish perpetrators. Few weeks ago, a similar spate struck again claiming the life of Betty Akello, a young entrepreneur in Bukedea town who died suddenly and mysteriously but sources believe she was also poisoned. Police at Bukedea CPS has since opened investigations and a source at Bukedea central police station says several people have made statements. “Other than reducing poisoning to a matter of mere whisper in communities, hundreds of people continue to die in the district every year,” Ms Mary Acom a resident of Kide ward in Bukedea town council said.
Where does the Bukedea poison come from?
No one knows where the poison comes from but in the 1980s, a popular story of an old man called Emori, a fisherman and hunter from Kachede village in Kabarwa Sub-county allegedly poisoned 14 Karimojong herdsmen after they made it a habit to steal his pounded groundnuts.
Away from Mzee Emori’s story poison was unheard of in Bukedea until the early 2000s when reports emerged that poison believed to be an extract from bile of a hippopotamus had crept in through black market from landing sites in Teso sub-region notably; Kagwara, Ajiba in Serere and Akide in Ongino sub county in Kumi district.
According to James Odengel, the LC1 Kocheka village in Kocheka Sub County, the fishing areas of Amodingot, a tributary from Lake Bisina in the border between Nakapiripirit and Bukedea also hides people with poison.
“There are people who are residing in the swamps in the sub counties of Kamutur, Kabarwa and Kangole in the Amodingot belt, they could have relocated there after poisoning several people and have since become direct suppliers of the poison,” Mr Odengel said.
In 2017, a woman in Koreng village in Kangole Sub County confessed in a community meeting to have sold two cows to buy a spoonful of poison from Tisai island in Ongino Sub County, for killing a neighbor whom she accused of extending a land boundary into her piece of land.
Sergeant Simon Ecokit, the Community Liaison Officer at Bukedea Central Police Station says that for over seven years of his deployment as a police officer in the poison stricken sub-counties of Malera, Kolir and Kabarwa, it is alleged that hunters and fishermen are the ones who supply it.
“Poison which is usually bile of a python or that of a hippopotamus is supplied by hunters and fishermen who get access to kill these animals in the wild,” Mr. Ecokit said.
He added that it usually comes from the fishing and hunting grounds at the border between Bukedea and Nakapiripirit district.
WHO IS POISON TARGETING IN BUKEDEA?
In 2017, an old man only identified as Ongolekol from Magara village in Kabarwa Sub County, confessed to killing eight people in a period of two months by lazing local gin locally known as Omoti with poison. According to him, they had delayed to pay back the money he loaned them.
“Some of them deserved to die because they failed to pay back my money, and you cannot accuse me of killing them as you do not have any evidence against me,” Mr. Ongolekol who was also a local money lender said before being released from police custody. However, Nicholas Odeke, the Chairperson Bukedea Unification, a youth network formed through WhatsApp platform to advocate for peace and unity in the district says that people wielding poison in the district mostly target young successful people. “They are mostly after graduates and other young people who have just started off with work,” Mr. Odeke said.
The poison got with a suspect from Aminit village in Kolir sub county in 2018. PHOTO DAVID ODUUT
JEALOUSY AND FEAR “It is sad that those that have failed in life will seek to use poison to kill a successful son of a neighbor in order to level things,” Odeke revealed. A veteran journalist with a local newspaper who preferred anonymity, said he has survived five attempts of food poisoning because he wrote critical issues affecting locals.
“My friend, even writing bad stories about others in this district will see you eat poison,” the reporter said before adding that unregulated local bars and restaurants are couriers to the vise. However, Mzee James Ariko of Kongunga town council in Kachumbala County, says people in the district also kill each other due to land wrangles.
He disclosed that young people with money are the major target as they are likely to be heirs for disputed land as well as wield financial power to help their families win cases during land disputes.
WOMEN WRANGLES
Sergeant Ecokit revealed that men can also poison others when they want to take over their wives. “A man can poison another when he in love with the victim’s wife because he wants to concubine her, once widowed,” Ecokit who also doubles as OC Kabarwa for Police Post said.
WRONG PERCEPTION
Afande Ecokit also says that some people in the district die out of other illnesses like ulcers and high blood pressure but communities end up connecting the death to poisoning.
“Diseases like ulcers also tend to kill people in a short time but locals always connect untimely deaths to poisoning,” Mr Ecokit said. However, a health worker at Bukedea Health Centre IV who preferred anonymity reveals that they have occasionally treated suspected cases of poisoning in the facility. “We do not get many cases here because poison victim prefers to rush to the herbalists who make vomit it out.” The health worker also accounts that in August 2019, first aid was given to two children who were 14 and 17 years old, who were residents of Tank Cell, in Kide Ward, Bukedea town. After receiving first aid, their father took them to Ilaborot who gave them them an antidote and they vomited out.
The In-Charge for Bukedea Health Centre IV, Julius Osele denied to comment on the matter saying he is not the spokesperson of the health department at the district-but such is the fear poison has planted in Bukedea district, people even fear to give comments lest it may start hunting for you!
STORIES OF HORROR
Poison is much dreaded in Bukedea that it currently has myths like; someone can put poison on animal ropes such that when the owner later goes to untie them, touches it hence later finds its way to the mouth while eating. It is also said that in some villages, someone can deflate a victim’s bicycle so that when they remove the valve, put in the mouth to put saliva to check whether its working ends up swallowing poison. Others claim that people can also put on a padlock while word has it that, witches can also spread it in the grass at the roadside with hope that others will get some of the grass for picking their teeth.
In Bukedea, some villages have also got war zone nicknames like Somalia, Darfur, and Bagdad among others attributing it to poisoning.
MOB JUSTICE There have been incidents where mobs have lynched suspected people with poison in community meetings after voting was held to name and shame suspects. In 2018, police fired live ammunition in the air to rescue a woman from an irate mob in Koreng village who accused her of poisoning her brother over land. Afande Ecokit says police has over the years held community sensitization meetings with locals to preach against poisoning. “Much as it has not totally dealt with it, it has at least created awareness and it has reduced now,” said Ecokit adding that, local politicians and religious leaders are also doing their part. However, Ecokit cries that the challenge remains that people do not want to report suspects to those in security. “People will only mumble at burial places but will never come up to report,” Mr. Ecokit said urging that communities should get bold enough to name suspects so that they can face the law. Mr. Moses Olemukan the Bukedea district Chairman says his office is ready to take drastic measures to punish those got having poison in the district. “We are not willing to play about with anybody got with poison as it is a local problem. I can assure you that once got, one will have to drink it before others so that they can be a testimony to how we do not want their bad acts,” Olemukan said.
ANTIDOTE: The hope at the end of the story
In 2010, an old man only identified as Ilaborot from Kakere Gagama village in Bukedea sub county, discovered an antidote which if victims are rushed to him in less than 12 hours, can make them vomit out the poison.
Sadly, the old man died in 2017, but lucky enough, he had taught his wife Mrs. Margaret Ilaborot on how to fix the concoction. Mrs. Ilaborot reveals that she saves not less than 150 people each year. And throughout the district, there are about three other people who can also make a concoction of the antidote which can make a victim vomit out the poison. When Aica contacted the two other saviors, they denied to go on record or to give details of the ingredients of the antidote.
WHAT HEALTH OFFICE SAYS
Dr Steven Ikodet the Bukedea District Health Officer his office does not have substantive data on cases related to food poisoning in the district but admits that it has been a health threat to many lives to the people in the district for several years.”I cannot give you figures but I must say that a number of patients have in the past years been received at various health centers across the district with poison related complications,” Mr Ikodet said. He however said that extremes of non communicable diseases like Ulcers and High blood pressure also pose similar symptoms to that of food poisoning a reason some deaths caused by them in the district have been refereed as poisoning. “You know there is general lack of knowledge about diseases like ulcers or pressure and since they can also claim somebody’s life in a quick and painful bout, people in the district have always pointed fingures accusing others for being behind their death,” the DHO said before adding that ‘food poisoning is still a delicate matter to discuss in Bukedea that needs to be addressed’. He advised that people should avoid risks of getting non communicable diseases by living and eating responsibly. “You cannot be eating three kilograms of pork and drinking 10 bottles of beer every day and when you high blood pressure knocks you off and your relatives will claims that you have been poisoned. People need to eat well and do exercise to live longer,” Mr Ikodet said.
In Bukedea district 49% of married women aged between 20 and 49 report having been married before their 18th birthday, one in four women had been married or had a child before they were 19 years.
A section of youth in Bukedea district have petitioned the district council over delayed enactment of the anti-early marriage ordinance.
A community forces a young girl to marry an old man. INTERNET PHOTO
Bukedea district in August 2018 committed to ending child marriage and teenage pregnancies by tabling a bylaw that would strongly criminalize the vise. However, to date, the law has not been passed by the district council.
Handing over the petition to the district leaders Tuesday afternoon, male youth working under The Girl Advocacy Alliance a rights advocacy group in Bukedea and Kachumbala sub-counties said they are not happy with the lack of commitment by the district to pass the bylaw even as it continues to grapple with rising cases of early marriages and teenage pregnancies.
Mr. Arikod Oscar, one of the youth from Kachumbala, read part of the petition noting that much as the district leadership had committed root out child marriage.
“Honorable speaker, there is urgency for the district to roll out policies, by-laws and programmes that protect girls from early marriage and teenage pregnancies and all other forms of abuse and exploitation,” Mr. Ariko said.
Medical records available at Bukedea District Health Office indicate that in the months of January to March this year, 83 pregnant underage girls enrolled for antenatal at Bukedea health center IV, 52 in Kidongole HCIII, 47 in Kabarwa HCIII, 61 in Bukedea Mission dispensary and 49 at Kachumbala Health Center III.
Child marriage is aviolation of human rights with consequences such as robbing the child’s opportunity to enjoy their childhood, denies child right to education, increase in the risk of health complications like fistula and death of the mother and the child, and increase the dependency syndrome among others.
Mr. Joseph Ochom the Principal Assistant Secretary Bukedea admitted that the district faced challenges in addressing the rise in cases of teenage pregnancies and child marriage.
“The biggest challenge we have had as a district is that communities either due to poverty levels makes parents to go behind curtains to negotiate with defilers and other early sex offenders even after police has made arrests, this is frustrating the justice system,” Mr. Ochom said.
In Bukedea district 49% of married women aged between 20 and 49 report having been married before their 18th birthday, one in four women had been married or had a child before they were 19 years.
A young girl doing chores while carrying her baby at the back. It is common for girls as young as 12 to get married in Bukedea. INTERNET PHOTO
Taking a stand
However district councilors, Mr. Mike Okwi councilor for Bukedea Sub County and Mr. Emong Shuan Juma the district vice chairperson both committed to support the enactment of the bylaw once tabled in council.
“I am also a father of some beautiful daughters whom I wouldn’t want to fall victim of teenage pregnancy and early marriage, so I am going to strongly support the passing of the ordinance,” Mr. Okwi said.
“Well, the national laws have a number of gaps that are being flouted by perpetrators so we as Bukedea want to pass an ordinance that will eliminate those gaps,” Mr. Emong said.
Not a day after police issued security guidelines on the return of Kyadondo East MP Bobi Wine alias Robert Kyagulanyi, the musician has reacted angrily faulting police for issuing directives of how he should arrive in his home country.
“I’m wondering why these police officers allow themselves to descend so low. They now want to decide who picks me and where I go upon arrival? Well, for your information, no single family member will receive me at the airport, I will find them home because I know where home is!” he said in a tweet adding that “I will be received by friends, colleague leaders and artistes. I will then go and see my sick grandmother briefly at Najjanankumbi from where I will head to Kamwokya for lunch with my family (brothers and sisters) before I go to my home in Magere.”
While using the hash tag People power Our power, the vocal Kyadondo East legislator said that he is a free Ugandan with the right to move freely in the country.
“The police has no business telling me who receives me and who cannot or where I go and where I cannot. This impunity must stop now. Wama see you friends tomorrow,” he continued tweeting.
Earlier, police spokesperson, Mr Emilian Kayima told journalists in Kampala that on his arrival at Entebbe International Airport on Thursday, the MP will be received by his immediate family and that he will be availed security from the airport to his home.
“Police will further ensure law and order for all road users. There shall be no unlawful rallies, processions and assemblies. Any activity that entails a public gathering must be in conformity with the provisions of Public Order Management Act (POMA),” added SSP Kayima.
Meanwhile several of his supporters have added their voice on the legislator accusing police of infringing on his rights.
Godfrey Mwesigye on Twitter said urged police to respect the rights of the legislator but also warned that his arrival may spark violent confrontention with the police tomorrow.
“True that bro, rights have to be respected. But violence has become a new disease to this country, we need peaceful.” He tweeted.
While another one tweeting on the handle HappyPeople cautioned Bobi Wine saying he should play by the rules of the law governing body.
“Hon, as a legislator you have to follow the rules. Advise your team to seek permission for the gathering in Wampewo. Don’t try to fall into Besigyes trap of disrupting business in the City. Helicopter from EBB to your home,” the twitter handle Happypeople advised.
Police in Uganda have issued what they have described as security guidelines ahead of the return of the country’s fresh political firebrand Bobi Wine.
Mr Wine who is also called Robert Kyagulanyi on Tuesday issued a statement on social media that he would return to the country on Thursday. This has created a lot of excitement among his supporters who according to police have heavily mobilized to welcome him on arrival at Entebbe Airport.
In a manifestation of panic, a statement issued Wednesday morning by police said they have banned crowds at Entebbe tomorrow restricting only his close family to receive him upon arrival at the airport.
“On his arrival, the MP will be received at Entebbe International Airport by his immediate family. He will be availed security from the airport to his home. Police will further ensure law and order for all road users. There shall be no unlawful rallies, processions and assemblies. Any activity that entails a public gathering must be in conformity with the provisions of Public Order Management Act (POMA),” said Police spokesperson SSP Emilian Kayima.
According to Kayima, the police and other security agencies have learnt that hundreds if not thousands of youth have mobilized across the country to throng to Entebbe and the capital Kamapala to welcome there ;freedom fighter;
“We have intelligence that there is a country wide mobilization of different groups of people who are being distributed with Red T-Shirts and posters calling upon them to participate in processions and assemblies to receive the MP,” Kayima told the press on Wednesday.
He further stressed that police shall work with sister security agencies to ensure that there is law and order and total peace.
“Members of the public ought to be reminded that public assemblies and processions are regulated by the provisions of the Public Order Management Act (POMA) 2013. No member of his family has worked out a mechanism for these intended processions and assemblies as provided for in the law,” added Mr Kayima in a statement issued on Wednesday morning.
Kyadondo East MP, Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine at the National Press Club in Washington on September 6, 2018
However, in a recorded video he shared via social media on Tuesday morning, Mr Kyagulanyi said: “I know they will plant many criminals among us to throw stones and they respond to us with bullets. I also have information that they have printed many red T-shirts with the word people Power so that they can send out those criminals to cause chaos and later on blame it on us.”
Mr Kyagulanyi said he is returning to Uganda to continue with the struggle to have what he described as ‘a better country.’
The ever raving appetite for bribes has got Kampala police on the spotlight again; this after management of Development Channel a private sector company headquartered in Uganda’s capital accuses them of seeking a two million shilling bribe to settle a less existent case.
The mathematical calculation done by Makerere,Gulu and Kabale University professors showing how covid 19 infections could catapult in a new infection.
As many as 10,000 Ugandans might be infected with COVID-19 if the country suffers from the second wave of infections according to mathematics modelling carried out by a group of Mathematicians from Makerere, Kabale, and Gulu Universities.
The model which is the first of its nature in the country is aimed at developing a mathematical framework to assist in understanding the unique dynamics of COVID-19 in Uganda so that a forecast of the disease trends can be known to apply timely and effective interventions.
Findings from the modelling that was released on Tuesday evening show that if Uganda wants to avoid a second wave of COVID-19 infections, the country needed to remain in lockdown for at least 200 days before 50 per cent of the population could be allowed to start working.
According to the principal investigator Professor Joseph Mugisha, who is also the principle of the College of Natural Sciences at Makerere University, the ideal time for Uganda to ease the lockdown to at least 75 per cent should be in October 2020.
Professor Mugisha says that easing the lockdown too soon and too fast for instance in August 2020 may downplay the impact of intervention measures that have been set up like increasing hospital capacities which will increase the disease burden.
The modelling further shows that if the lockdown is eased by 50 per cent before 200 days, the number of hospitalized patients would increase steadily and go as high as 8,000 while the number of undetected cases in the community could be as high as 1,200.
Professor Mugisha, says that the model shows that Uganda’s disease burden is directly and heavily related to the proportion of the population that is available.
He adds that the study also finds that if the hospital infections which have started to crop up from different treatment centres are not controlled, this could present a big problem for the country. The model shows that just 12 per cent of hospitalized infections after two months would increase the maximum number of hospitalized cases on any given day to 10,000.
Currently, 25 health workers have been infected. The mathematicians note that if measures are not put in place to stop health workers on COVID-19 wards even with the reduced transmissibility of a mere 12 per cent, the resulting disease could spill over to communities which would increase the maximum daily demand of beds by 260 per cent in one year.
Another area that was highlighted is the number of imported cases which according to the models is one of the biggest threats. The model shows that Uganda can win the battle on this front within the situated period of 365 days if the infected people or those who are suspected are also blocked from entry.
The findings of the study come at a time when the government is releasing lockdown measures and allowing Ugandans who were stuck abroad to return home. the first plane carrying Ugandans is expected to arrive in the country any given day from now.
Dr Amos Ssematimba, a mathematician at the Department of Mathematics at Gulu University, says that currently, Uganda has lifted the lockdown to 50 per cent. He, however, cautions that the country should not hurry to release the lockdown in other sectors because this, could overload health systems that cannot handle very many positive cases.
“Adding on more percentages might not be wise at the moment. It will be too fast and too soon because with a few days the covid19 related hospitalization demand would have already overwhelmed the current resources,” he said.
The researchers note they have already subjected the model to different data from Rwanda and Kenya and found out it was giving relatively perfect results.
Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the vice-chancellor of Makerere University who attended the release of the findings said that the model would be published for peer review. The model had also been submitted to the ministry of health which will decide on whether it should be presented to President Yoweri Museveni so that it can offer guidance on how the lifting of the lockdown should be carried out.
Mr. Asuman Basalirwa adressing the media yesterday.//URN Photo
The Justice Forum-JEEMA has described the reviewed Electoral Commission roadmap as unconstitutional.
The Commission released a new roadmap on Tuesday banning all political rallies and all physical interactions between candidates and supporters in the run up to the 2021 elections. Instead, the commission advised all contenders for political offices, to utilise digital platforms as a medium of interaction during the campaign period.
The commission also revised its roadmap to cover the three months within which no activity was allowed, as the country announced a lockdown, to forestall the spread of coronavirus disease. Among the affected activities was the display of the National Voter’s Register, which had started in March, shortly before the lockdown, and the nomination of candidates under special interest groups.
According to the revised roadmap, political parties are supposed to hold party primaries between June 22 and July 21, thereafter, there will be nominations for candidates for local government elections including the Special Interest Groups between September 7 to 17, 2020.
The roadmap also shows that nominations for parliamentary and presidential elections shall be held between October 12 to 13 and November 2-3 respectively after which parliamentary digital campaigns will be held until January 8.
But Asuman Basaalirwa, the Justice Forum President says that the constitution does not provide for the guidelines issued by the commission hence rendering them unconstitutional. He says what the government is terming as a scientific election where candidates and the population communicate via media platforms has no footing in Uganda’s laws.
“Now in our constitution there is nothing like digital elections, there is nothing like scintific elections.So its either we have the election the normal way or no elections at all. You are saying there are no mass rallies but what is the substitute to that?” Mr. Basalirwa questioned.
Basaalirwa, also the head of the Inter-Party Organisation for Dialogue, an organisation that brings together all political parties with representation in parliament, says that the government should have consulted different stakeholders on the matter for a better option.
He says the government could extend the election after declaring a state of emergency. He is concerned that going on with an election in the proposed manner does not favour the opposition and masses with limited access to media. And yet, going on with the election in such times of a health emergency could expose the population to the virus if done normally.
Basaalirwa says that he has written to the Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of parliament asking that the Electoral Commission explains how it intends to implement guidelines that are unconstitutional.
Meanwhile, the president of the Forum for Democratic Change Patrick Amuriat Oboi says that the reviewed roadmap is a clear indication of an unfair electoral process adding that the election looks already rigged. Amuriat says that the opposition has limited influence in the media in Uganda putting the ruling NRM at an advantage.
“Well the revised roadmap is designed to favor the NRM, we never had any input on that road map and yet we know for sure that Mr. Museveni was consulted and yet he was an interested party in the elections,”Mr. Amuriat said.
Jimmy Akena the president of the Uganda People’s Congress says that they are still studying the reviewed roadmap.
A catholic Cleric from Soroti diocese has asked the government to allow churches to reopen saying it is unfair to keep them closed while the rest of the country is being eased from lockdown.
Reverend Father Jerome Agelu of Soroti Catholic diocese says that since the government allowed buses and taxis which carry strangers to operate, religious gatherings should equally be allowed.
Father Agelu was last week at Atilekori village, Kamacha Sub County in Kumi district where he presided over the burial ceremony of the late Mzee Apio Frances Outeke, a retired but influential Superintendent of Uganda Prisons.
“I want to request leaders to reopen churches. You have allowed daily markets to operate with hundreds of different people interacting everyday while thousands of strangers are also carried along by buses and taxis every day,” Father Agelu said noting that buses and taxis are more risky as compared to churches.
In his argument, the reverend said churches are bigger and can also implement directives on avoiding the spread of Covid 19 as opposed to buses and Taxis and Buses which currently do not observe most of the set guidelines.
“You asked buses and taxis to carry half, but I tell you that is not actually the case many are already full now,” the reverend father said.
He noted that churches can easily observe social distancing by limiting the number of people who congregate at a time adding that multiple prayer sessions can also be the option to see more people attend prayers in a given day.
“In any case this country and the entire world needs prayers to get heeled from coronavirus so leaders should allow churches to reopen,” Father Ageru eluded.
Hundreds, if not thousands of people who defied directives on social distancing as they attended the burial thunderously clapped in approval of the cleric’s request.
James Okitoi, one of the mourners, told Daily Monitor that the government should consider opening churches especially in rural areas as locals know each other’s movements.”
“Probably churches in towns have issues because congregants have cars to move about and have varied contacts but in the village this lockdown has even confided us the more, a village is now like a family so we should be allowed to pray together,” Mr. Okitoi said.
President Museveni on March 20th closed churches and other concentration points including the Primary and Secondary schools as well as all the Universities and Tertiary Institutions in a bid to minimize person to person contact, a punitive measure which has proved successful in curtailing the spread of covid 19 for past nearly three months in Uganda.
Former Teso Affairs state minister Christine Amongin Aporu laying a wreath to the casket of Major Akorimo
Maj. Kanuti Akorimo, the man who hoisted Uganda’s National Flag on October 9, 1962, died a quiet and frustrated. Maj. Akorimo, died at Atutur Hospital in Kumi District on Wednesday morning.
Born in Omatenga village in Kumi district on January 6, 1931, Akorimo rose to fame after undergoing education and training by the British, a few years before Uganda attained her independence and the events of Uganda’s independence where he is mostly remembered for lowering the union jack and raising the Uganda flag on October 9, 1962.
His widow, Florence Agwang told our reporter that despite the fame and status that he had back in the day, the old man’s life has been characterized by poverty, suffering and regret. She explains that says that from the time of his retirement, Akorimo tried to concentrate on his family. However, in his life journey, he lost two of his three wives and seven of his 20 children leaving him more disheartened.
“…We have been surviving on handouts and hard labour. I resorted to charcoal burning but when Mzee’s health degenerated, I couldn’t handle. Currently, we don’t even have enough food for the family because most of the time, I have been with Mzee to the hospital,” Agwang said.
Agwang says that only three of Akorimo’s children have studied beyond Ordinary Level (S.4) and a majority have not sat Primary Leaving Examination- PLE. She notes that the flag hoister was financially constrained and psychologically tortured after failing to access his retirement benefits.
According to Agwang, Akorimo would, on several occasions, lock himself inside the house and cry as life became tough. She points out Uganda’s independence day as one of those that evoked sad memories for him.
Joyce Asekenye, the Chairperson of Iteso Cultural Union in Kumi District says Akorimo was abandoned by the government and fellow leaders in Teso, adding that there has been a big gap between the government the family and the local leaders in Teso on the matters of his plight.
But Helen Christine Amongin Aporu, the former Kumi Woman MP and State Minister for Teso Affairs says that President Yoweri Museveni had taken note of Akorimo’s issues and had directed Kumi District Health Officer, Opolot (now retired) to take charge of Akorimo’s health.
Amongin explains that by the time the President asked the army to construct a house for Akorimo, many other considerations for his welfare had been planned but not much was realized. When asked why the government didn’t consider paying Akorimo’s package, Amongin said she had no answer.
Albert Odeke, a resident of Atutur in Kumi says it’s regrettable for a person like Akorimo, whose effort has seen Uganda grow, die in tears of frustration and regrets. He wants the government to consider Akorimo’s family and build for him a monument.
“He cried in Atutur hospital as how he wronged Ugandan government, however I dont blame president Museveni but I blame leaders in Teso who abandoned Mzee even at the time of his death,” Mr. Odeke lamented.
Who is Maj. Akorimo Kanuti?
Akorimo started his career as a Clerical Officer at British American Tobacco-BAT Jinja at the age of 21, just a year after training in Kisumu Commercial School, Kenya and wedding his first wife, Gabudesia Arionget in 1952
In 1953, he was employed in the East African Army Service Corps and later joined the army to fight the MAU- MAU rebellion. While in the army, he attended a number of courses including infantry, military education, clerical and Officer Cadet Course in Nakuru. He also attended Officer Cadet Selection Board and passed.
Early in 1961, Akorimo flew to Britain to attend an Officer Cadet Course at MONS, and upon returning to Uganda was posted to the 1st Battalion in Jinja and given the responsibility of internal security for the whole country to maintain peace and stability.
At the time of Uganda’s independence in October 1962, Akorimo was given the responsibility of lowering the Union Jack and raising the Uganda Flag, a task he is mostly remembered for. But he continued to carry on some other responsibilities in Uganda and in the East African Community.
In 1963, he was posted to the School of East Africa in Nakuru Lanet where he served as an Administrator and promoted to the rank of Captain. In July 1964, he was recalled by the government of Uganda to take charge of the Military Headquarters at Entebbe as Commandant and promoted to Major.
Akorimo worked as a Commanding Officer in Mbarara in 1965 and later posted to Moroto where he opted to retire in August 1968 at the age of 37. His retirement was informed by what he described as unbearable country leadership which had tribal and religious tendencies in the army
Maj. Akorimo was laid to rest on Friday at his home in Omatenga where thousands of people braved through the COVID-19 strict guidelines to pay respect to the departed statesman. Akorimo succumbed to aspiration pneumonia caused by stroke. He was 89 years.
ENTEBBE – Uganda on Friday received 3,842,000 doses of bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV) to support ongoing routine immunization services throughout the country.
The bivalent oral polio vaccines procured by UNICEF, with funding from the Government of Uganda, arrived at Entebbe International Airport via an Emirates Airline cargo flight.
The doses, which will last for six months, will be administered to about 900,000 children below the age of one year. A child receives three doses of Polio vaccines before they celebrate their first birthday.
810,500 doses of Pentavalent Vaccines also procured by UNICEF with funding from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are expected to arrive at Entebbe on 28 April 2020. Pentavalent Vaccine is a combination of five vaccines in one: diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenza type b (the bacteria that causes meningitis, pneumonia and otitis) and will also be administered to children under the age of one.
Despite the challenges posed on the supply and delivery processes amidst COVID-19 related lockdowns, UNICEF is ensuring the delivery of strategic supplies for children to ensure uninterrupted immunization services.
The bivalent oral polio vaccines were received by Dr. Alfred Driwale, UNEPI Programme Manager and Ms Noreen Prendiville, UNICEF Deputy Representative at Entebbe airport today.
Dr. Driwale said that while there are ongoing difficulties resulting from COVID-19 pandemic, parents are encouraged to make sure that their children receive their routine immunization while following the Ministry of Health guidance on how to continue accessing health services and prevent themselves against COVID-19.
“We want to encourage parents and guardians to take their children for routine immunization at any nearby health centre. The vaccines are available, and the health workers are ready to immunize children,” Dr. Driwale said.
Prendiville said UNICEF is committed to continue supporting the Government of Uganda to deliver the much-needed life-saving services including protecting Ugandan children from vaccine-preventable diseases especially during pandemics.
“As scientists work hard to accelerate vaccine development for COVID-19, we must also ensure children are protected against those diseases for which vaccines already exist, including Polio, Measles, Rubella and Tuberculosis. Immunization is one of the most effective public health interventions and is key to end vaccine-preventable child deaths and giving children a chance to grow up healthy and reach their full potential,” Prendiville said.
The vaccines were cleared at the airport by the National Medical Stores (NMS) and transported to their warehouse in Entebbe. From the warehouse, NMS will distribute the vaccines to all districts in the country as they routinely do for all vaccines in the national immunization schedule.
In 2019, we have seen an increase in immunization services and close to 8 million children under 5 received a booster dose of bivalent oral polio vaccine to reduce the risk of polio importation from neighbouring countries.
Uganda had its last Polio case in 2010 and UNICEF and partners stand committed to support the government in maintaining a Polio-free Uganda.
About UNICEF UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Epidemiologists are scientists who study diseases within populations of people. In essence, these public health professionals analyze what causes disease outbreaks in order to treat existing diseases and prevent future outbreaks.
By David Oduut
The ministry of health has dispatched a team of health experts to all districts across the country to help up country coronavirus response teams to contain the spread of the disease.
The team of epidemiologists was dispatched Thursday afternoon from the ministry headquarters in Kampala by Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Achieng after briefing them.
“I briefed and dispatched a team of epidemiologists who will be going to various districts across the country to support the district COVID-19 response teams,” Dr. Achieng said.
The health minister added that the team will be supported by one senior Clinical officer and one ministry of health official in each district.
The dispatchment comes at a time when government has also sent Shs 165m to all districts to help in the fight against the spread of Covid 19. The money which was part of Sh284m supplementary budget approved by parliament for containing the spread of Covid 19 is to be used largely for fueling ambulances and emergency cars at the districts.
Uganda is already making positive strides towards the spread of Covid 19 but amidst reports of up-country medical workers going into once suspected cases are admitted at their facilities.
As of Thursday, the country had a total of 55 confirmed cases with 12 recoveries. The ministry of health was at the same time recording positive results as all the 1,032 people tested turned out negative.
However, amidst these encouraging results Dr. Henry G. Mwebesa the Director General Health services at the ministry of health has urged Ugandans not to relax with the stipulated measures as such would give the disease leeway to spiral.
Uganda is currently under another 21-day lockdown as the country tries to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus disease which has brought the world on its knees with a total of 138,101 deaths in a period of less than six months
Oduut Daily News Dose 