Watchdog Uganda
Similar concerns have been raised in many other African countries and societies. For instance, in South Africa, as a way of enforcing the Covid-19 regulations, burials have also been modified from traditional ones to those with limited crowds, with burial teams donned in hazmat suits and with bodies wrapped (or “trappedâ€) in plastic bags.
Such “scientific†burials have enraged many families, especially those in rural communities. In turn, they are defying the government and are secretly exhuming the bodies. Their argument is: How could the spirit of the dead be reached and engaged when it is so trapped? Can the spirit be able to escape its ‘plastic prison’ and join the ancestors, or remain locked in captivity?
Some have expressed fear that these new burial rules have posed serious spiritual consequences for their families. They claim that, in their dreams, they receive messages from the ancestors warning of the suffocation and entrapment of their spirits in the plastic body bags. Thus, the need for exhuming the bodies, removing the plastics and reburying them.
In Kenya, relatives of a man suspected to have died from Covid-19 sued the government and asked that his hurriedly-buried body be exhumed and then re-buried with proper traditional rites. They complained that the body of their loved one was buried in a shallow grave wrapped in a plastic bag, contrary to their Luo customs and had caused stigma in their village.
In her judgment, the learned judge ruled that, given the health hazards involved, it was not advisable to exhume the body, but ordered that the grave site be cemented. Also, she stated that “One does not cease being a human once dead; only the state of life is altered. … I conclude that indeed the dead have rightsâ€.
Most communities in Africa believe in life after death. Consequently, burial practices are given a lot of significance as they are perceived as crucial steps in transitioning from the world of the living to the spiritual world. It is believed that a properly conducted funeral helps the dead to relocate to the world of the dead where they live a similar life to those on earth and continue to participate in affairs on earth.
The fact is, there are so many rituals and social behaviours surrounding death, mourning and burial in the African society. Some cultures prepare for burial by washing, kissing and dressing the corpse. For others, in order to access the last wishes of the dying, they choose not to take them to hospital for medical attention. Of course, all these practices represent a considerable infection risk for Covid-19.
Many believe that if these rituals are not performed in the prescribed manner, or crucial steps are missed, the deceased would be condemned to wander eternally and would return to torment their relatives. This is even feared more than the Covid-19 infections because the angry spirits could cast spells on their descendants.
As Africa’s health systems continue to buckle under the onslaught of Covid-19, the recent trends in burial practices have demonstrated that the use of scientific methods alone without a holistic consideration of other contextual factors is not sufficient to control the disease. Governments should consider how Covid-19 plays into the cultures of the societies affected.
Mr. Mukalazi is the Country Director of
Every Child Ministries Uganda.
bmukalazi@ecmafrica.org
Oulanyah was received by Deputy Speaker Anita Among, Leader of the Opposition Mathias Mpuuga among others.
Last Friday, the Speaker quietly returned to the country.
Oulanyah had been out of the country for one and half months. He last presided over Parliament at the reading of the 2021/2022 financial year budget at Kololo Independence Grounds.
His absence from the public had continued to raise speculation with several media reports indicating that he had tested positive for COVID-19.
There were also reports that he was allegedly transported to Entebbe International Airport in an ambulance and carried on a stretcher to the plane that evacuated him from Uganda.
The Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Parliament, Chris Obore, said that the Speaker had travelled to see one of his children in the United Kingdom- UK.
“He travelled to the UK, but this is in no way related to sickness or anything, but to see his son whom he had not seen in a long time,†Obore said.
Last Wednesday, Members of Parliament tasked Deputy Speaker Among about the continued absence of Oulanyah.
]]>How NUP’s Bobi Wine, Rubongoya duped Ugandanshttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210729/118199/how-nups-bobi-wine-rubongoya-duped-ugandans.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 08:56:46 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118199By Del w OmonySir Winston Churchill pronounced Uganda ‘’ The Pearl of Africa’’ due to its biodiversity, ranging from the number of tourist attractions, the loving and welcoming people , the different cultures, the weather and climate among others. The same cannot be said of the country’s politics.
The question here is; Do we really have opposition in Uganda? And can Ugandans entrust the future of this country to the opposition?
Recently, we embarked on finding out the truth behind the bickering between the founding members of National Unity Platform kibalama team and the current leadership led by Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine. We are out to highlight on a number of illegalities which include; the illegal smuggling and swapping of the original party constitution to suit individual target and personal gains.
It should be remembered that Mr. Kyagulanyi and the People Power team having been frustrated by the so called big opposition political parties he hoodwinked the less powerful but strategic original leadership of NUP headed by Nkonge Moses Kibalama, into signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Due to limited time to beat the nomination deadline and the urge to elect Kyagulanyi as the party leader before the 2021 general elections, both teams on the 11th /July/2020 being in a rush drafted an MOU between both parties to fufill their goals.
Indeed David Lewis Rubongoya being one of the leading negotiator of the joint venture drafted the MOU for the relationship of both parties and signed upon the agreement.
On the 14th /July/2020 a simple handover meeting was organized at Kakiri gardens and hotel in Wakiso which saw Mr kyagulanyi and Mr Rubongoya as NUP’s duly elected president and secretary general respectively. We have since reliably learnt that Mr kyagulanyi and colleagues did not at all adhere to the terms of the MOU and nothing what so ever has ever been put into account thus throwing Mr Nkonge in moods of calling off the understanding which has also since been discovered to have expired on the 11th /07/2021 according to clause 5 of the same MOU.
The bickering of the senior NUP leadership also stems from the establishment that after Kyagulanyi and Rubongoya taking charge of the party leadership, the team selfishly violated the laws of political parties and swapping the original party constitution of 2004 when the it was first registered.
According to Nkonge, the constitution of which he has a copy in his custody has never been amended yet the one he sees in public domain is different and even the behavior of the leadership clearly shows they are not following any guidelines.
A case of these unconstitutional characters has since been brought to the attention of the regulator of political parties and organization- the Electoral Commission of Uganda for determination and possible actions if proved if Nkonge’s allegations are proved right.
In the turn of events, after realizing all the mess, the promoters took up a step of calling for sanity after a long strive to have matter at hand resolved failed.
They wrote to Mr Kyagulanyi a letter dated 09/11/2020 and signed by William Odinga Balikuddembe on behalf of other promoter/ founders of which a call was deliberately ignored and all efforts to get matters raised attended to fell on deaf ears.
One realizing the MOU was set for review after one year as clearly stated in clause 5 of the same, Nkonge and Ssimbwa Paul and others through thier lawyers of Mugabi Shyaka and company Advocates wrote a reminder to Mr Rubongoya to cause a meeting on or before the 11/07/2021 to review and or evaluate the performance of the 11/07/2020 memorandum of understanding between both parties which was also ignored.
In a very surprising turn of events, social media was awash with a statement from two of the less known Co-founders of NUP party mentioned in the MOU distancing themselves from the call to review the understanding which was due for review on the 11/07/2021 and these included Mr Kigozi Winstone and Mr Odinga William Balikuddembe. It’s not clear why this time round Mr Balikuddembe distanced himself from the complaints yet last year he is the one who signed a letter demanding to review the way the opposition party was being run by the new leadership.
How these two co-founders distance themselves from such unresolved facts is a story to tell.
]]>SIMON KIMOYI: What does Rwanda-DRC gold deal entail for Uganda?https://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210729/118196/simon-kimoyi-what-does-rwanda-drc-gold-deal-entail-for-uganda.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 08:02:07 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118196Regional economic reports indicate that Rwanda earned slightly more than half a billion-dollars from gold receipts of FY 2020/21. With approximately $2bn in Uganda we earned four folds more. We both don’t possess fundamental deposits of gold but have lately identified the precious metal as a strategic item for international trade. In our situation, the foregoing period was also our best performance with the strategic cash cropâ€"coffee. But forex from gold surpassed that from coffee by four times.In positioning Uganda as a regional destination for gold trade, three state-of-the art refineries have since been establishedâ€"including African Gold Refinery at Entebbe, Bullion Refinery and Simba Gold Refinery in Kampala.
In Uganda we are blessed with about eight million ounces of gold; big enough to spur our economy but not sufficient to sustainably feed the refineries. This partly explains why despite having the capacity, the Entebbe based refinery is yet to engage in jewelry manufacturing.
Across the border, our friends in Rwanda are already into jewelry making. Kigali was excited by the gold returns of $522m last fiscal year that registered a mammoth increment of over 200%. This notwithstanding, Rwanda feels the confidence to do better than that.
In the new measures, Kigali has disengaged from the partnership with a Dubai-based gold firm, Aldabra Ltd whose international experience had brought it thus far since 2019. It cites tax evasion issues although the duty to manage the Aldango gold refinery in Kigali was a 50-50 shared responsibility with Ngali Mining, a state-owned company.
Now, the frozen Aldabra Ltd had been responsible for the inflows of raw gold mainly from neighboring DRC and other African sources such as Central African Republic, Sudan and South Sudan. But the owner of Aldabra in UAE is the same majority stakeholder at African Gold Refinery in Entebbe, Uganda. He is called Alain Goetz, a Belgian national. The same Mr Goetz secured the refinery equipment for himself in Uganda with an operation capacity of 219 tons and earmarked for his partnership in Rwanda a refinery of 73-ton capacity; just a third of that in Uganda. This must have maddened Kigali.
To completely cut off Goetz’s supply lines for the Entebbe firm, last month on June 26 president Paul Kagame inked a gold-mining deal with president Félix Tshisekedi of DRC. In detail, the deal practically places the responsibility of providing security to DRC gold mines squarely on Rwanda’s shoulders. It is categorical on: (i) promotion and protection of investments, (ii) avoidance of double taxation and tax evasion and (iii) gold mining cooperation.
Rwanda will invest in DRC gold sites (most likely by upfront payment), deploy security (military by all means) to sentry the mines, physically engage in mining activity, transfer the metals to Kigali for refining, manufacture the ornaments thereof, promote and market them internationally and share the dividends with Kinshasa. Bad to anyone? Obviously.
Whereas Kigali’s main target is Alain Goetz; the major victim is us, Ugandans. It is an expanded attack on our regional economic interests. An extension of what started in 2019 by closure of the common border.
The explanation then was to rehabilitate inland access roads within Rwanda which eventually evolved into an economic embargo to-date.
Today, the excuse for severing relations with Goetz’s Aldabra firm is tax evasion. But in a real sense the measure constitutes an economic war. If things are left as they are, we shall be short of what we earned from gold last FY. More Ugandan gold dealers risk death from inside the DRC than have been shot dead at the common border with Rwanda.
Apparently we are investing in DRC’s physical infrastructure for one major purposeâ€"to maximize trade benefits. Hence Kampala must expeditiously review existing economic protocols with Kinshasa to guarantee unconstrained access to all resources in either country that are of mutual benefit to all.
Simon Kimoyi is a PhD Candidate, Kampala International University
]]>MILLY BABALANDA: Removal of lockdown will depend on public disciplinehttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210729/118194/milly-babalanda-removal-of-lockdown-will-depend-on-public-discipline.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 07:29:45 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118194On Friday, June 18, 2021, President Yoweri Museveni addressed the nation as the Coronavirus/Covid-19 situation escalated. At the time, the country had recorded an upsurge in numbers of infections and deaths in unprecedented figures. To stem the tide, the President a strengthening of measures against the tide of the disease. Key among the measures was reimposition of lockdown countrywide, pushing forward curfew hours and banning cross district travel.The lockdown imposed was to last 42 days and came into force on June 20.
This second lockdown after the one of last year was in response to a second wave of the disease which wave was a result of many factors among which was reduction in vigilance of the public in observing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Had this new lockdown not been instituted, I believe that the situation would be too bad. The second wave has taken many of our people (may their souls rest in eternal peace) and seen a huge number admitted. Those still in hospital, it is my prayer that you make it out. Covid-19 is not a death sentence!
The 42 days of the current lockdown are elapsing in a few days and the president will be addressing the country to update the public on the situation as it stands.
He will spell out “what next†and this could involve extending the lockdown, scaling it down, relaxing the measures or tightening them. It all depends on the informed reports he has on his table and the advice of scientists. Any mistake made at this time could take us back to the pre-June 18 situation.
Yet people are hard pressed with life’s demands; they are out of work, yet in need of food, rent, medical care and they have taken a hit from the pandemic in all ways imaginable. Everybody is asking “when is this whole thing coming to end?†I am sure everyone wants the lockdown to be lifted. I am certain that the President wants normalcy restored, yet he wants everybody safe. We have already witnessed how the situation has improved, and how this validates the wisdom in the President’s interventions which, despite the great inconvenience to persons and government, have not been in vain.
Last year at the height of the political season when some groups of people were dismissing the threat of Covid-19 and actively urging the public to defy safety guidelines, the President said what we were dealing with was not a matter of convenience but survival.
That wisdom still stands, and even more apparent since the disease has visited almost every community and people can no longer deny its nearness. For that matter, if it requires suffering a little more inconvenience to our normal ways of life for the sake of surviving to enjoy life tomorrow, let us all do our part to keep Covid-19 at bay.
Vaccination is going and government is committing ample resources to ensure that a reasonable number of people are vaccinated since this reduces incidences of acquiring the virus, suffering and dying from it and spreading it to others. We shall receive proper updates on the vaccination drive.
For now, I wish to advise that from my take on these things is that the decision to remove or relax lockdown and other measures will depend on public behavior in these last days as the 42 day period comes to an end.
People have been very disciplined; they have been observing SOPs, curfew times, avoiding unnecessary travel and socialising. They have been avoiding public transport, save for some few cases of violators but who have been brought to book as an example. If this discipline and vigilance is upheld, I would have no doubt that normalcy would be possible and the President would eagerly announce that.
However, I have started seeing people openly violating the SOPs, boda boda and private vehicles are ferrying passengers. As we get closer to the end of the current lockdown, mistakes are beginning to be made and that could see a new one imposed, which would be hard on us.
From the start of the pandemic until this point, Uganda has performed relatively well against the disease on account of excellent guidance from the top leadership, commitment of medical teams, enforcement of regulations by security teams and compliance by the general public with the safety directives. Without a clear end in sight, we need to maintain this “wall†at all times until we see the last of the disease or learn to live with it as it is said in sections of the scientific community.
In other countries, lockdown has been lifted and instituted as and when the situation warrants. The problem is that as soon countries open up, people lose their sense of caution, infections skyrocket and lockdown is put back in place.
People want houses of worship reopened, schools and institutions of learning reopened (so that teachers and non-teaching staff resume their jobs and learners progress academically); public transporters want to be back in business, government and businesses want their workforces back on duty but that without strict adherence to SOPs and other measures, chances of a new lockdown being introducing are very high.
The bottom line is that each of us must be responsible for our individual and collective safety if normalcy is to be restored. For now, I can’t read the President’s mind.
The author is the Minister for the Presidency
]]>NAJIB S. NSUBUGA: We should take deliberate efforts to safeguard our cultural heritage https://www.watchdoguganda.com/op-ed/20210729/118192/najib-s-nsubuga-we-should-take-deliberate-efforts-to-safeguard-our-cultural-heritage.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:59:33 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118192On the 31st of July 2021, the Kabaka of Buganda shall celebrate the 28th anniversary of his coronation as the reigning King of Buganda. This is a great milestone for the person of the Kabaka and his subjects since it makes him the longest serving Buganda monarch in modern time. I congratulate His Majesty Kabaka Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II and the whole of Buganda for the journey thus moved.The 28th anniversary comes at a very critical moment in our time characterized by high technological advancement and unprecedented challenges to our traditional culture. It is important to note that the progress in international telecommunications has promoted globalization with all its implications.
The exposure to foreign cultures through television and the internet has had adverse implications on our traditional norms and customs. A number of people have ignorantly adopted foreign cultures, some of which are totally antagonistic to our humanistic and cultural values such as gay practices and others under the guise of modernity, liberalism and free will.
The traditional avenues through which traditional cultures were previously transmitted from one generation to the other have gradually been ignored and may not be applicable in modern times. The celebrated evening assemblies at fire places in Buganda where elders through storytelling and deliberate teaching, passed on cultural concepts to the young ones have almost phased out. The death of senior elders who are the custodians of our culture has also left a huge vacuum.
There is a very close relationship between our cultural heritage and the natural heritage. In Buganda for example, our clan and totem system is based on our flora and fauna. Mountains, forests, lakes, rivers and swamps comprise critical elements attached to our culture most especially when it comes to the spiritual matters of the Â"LubaaleÂ". However, there has been unprecedented encroachment on those sites resulting into the destruction of key cultural elements.
Apart from giving us identity, cultural heritage directly contributes to the tourism sector which is currently one of the leading sources of foreign exchange for the country.
Through strong adherence to our customs, it becomes easy to maintain some of the key sites that attract tourists to the Pearl of Africa.
The theme for this yearÂ's Kabaka coronation anniversary may be lightly translated as Â"Culture as a tool for developmentÂ". This is a very important insight that should allow people understand that through our cultures, there is much that we could do to foster development.
The initiative that is exhibited in our cultures and how our ancestors managed to come up with amazing innovations like the backcloth and the welding of tools should give us great lessons.
Additionally, the theme also indirectly proposes a need to re-examine our traditions in order to ensure the feasibility of development. Components that are counterproductive and not suitable for modern times be phased out to give way to progress.
However, a mere theme is not enough to stir the minds of individuals that have been polluted by religious doctrines that preach against culture and foreign culture that presents itself as modernity and depicts our traditional culture as archaic and satanic. There is need for deliberate efforts that will reignite the love for our culture and help individuals realize that there is much that they could achieve through their cultures.
The best example should be set by our leaders whose influence directly impacts the lives of their subjects. Modernity cannot be dismissed in the current times, however, it is still very possible for us to portray modernity within our cultures. A section of educated people has completely phased out the use of their mother tongue in their homes and have adopted English taking it to be a symbol of modernity.
Government should take the lead in the protection and preservation of our natural heritage from encroachment through the implementation of the laws that govern their usage. Additionally, there is need for inclusion of a variety of cultural concepts in our curricula at all levels to substitute the traditional ways of cultural transmission.
There is need for considerable investment in the compilation of our cultural concepts in well preserved forms of literature including written and oral formats.
This will enable us ensure that generations to come shall always have a source of reference. Authorities and elders also need to deliberately cultivate a sense of liking for our culture by the young generation through targeted exposure.
The internet allows us to compete with the Â"modern culturesÂ" through the digitization of our cultural concepts and make them available by just a click. This will not only attract the locals but also make our cultures known to the outside world and in the long run will attract more tourists yearning to know more about us.
The notion that culture is transmitted casually has lost meaning as a result to the exposure to numerous cultures, necessitating that we embark on a direct and deliberate campaign to ensure that our cultures remain dominant among the people.
The writer is a sociopolitical commentator and a member of Buganda Youth Council
]]>UCE 2020 results to be released tomorrow at 12pmhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210729/118188/uce-2020-results-to-be-released-tomorrow-at-12pm.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 06:14:26 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118188The Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataha Museveni, is scheduled to release the 2020 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results this Friday 30 July, 2021 at 12pm.This is the second set of the national examinations to be released after Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) results that were released two weeks back.
On Wednesday, the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) top leadership met Mrs Museveni and other Ministry of Education officials where they briefed them on the outcome of last year’s UCE.
“The release of results will be conducted under strict observance of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) at State House,†Ministry of Education and Sports Spokesperson Patrick Muinda confirmed.
Candidates and other stakeholders will recieve the results using the Short Message Services (SMS) on mobile phones after the official release.
A total of 333,889 candidates registered for 2020 UCE from 3,935 examination centres.
Out of these, 49.8 per cent were male while 50.1 per cent were female.
At total of 148,135 of the candidates are under the Universal Secondary Education (USE) while 185,754 candidates are Non-USE.
]]>Ugandans to Access Cheaper COVID-19 tests from RHU Clinicshttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210729/118183/ugandans-to-access-cheaper-covid-19-tests-from-rhu-clinics.html Thu, 29 Jul 2021 05:48:50 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118183By Aldon Walukamba GUgandans can now access COVID-19 rapid diagnostic (RDT) tests at a cheaper cost from 20 Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) clinics in Uganda.
Dr. Annet Nagudi, Director of WISH2ACTION project at RHU says the market price for each COVID 19 antigen RDT test is 40,000 shillings. The price is low in order to allow the vulnerable and underserved people access COVID 19 RDT tests that are offered at a more expensive price in other outlets.
“The RDT tests that pick ou the outer particles of the coronavirus will be carried out, but those clients found to be negative, but with symptoms, their samples will be transported to undergo a thorough polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test at the government facilities in Uganda,†Dr. Nagudi says.
Dr. Kenneth Buyinza, RHU Manager Clinical Services says more than 60 RHU health experts at RHU underwent a competent RDT COVID 19 testing, training exercise by the Ministry of Health Officials.
“Following the rigorous training, in RDT testing of COVID 19 among our medical personnel, we are now ready to start testing COVID 19 at RHU clinics,†Buyinza says.
Currently, the clinics are equipped with all the RDT testing and personnel protective equipment’s in all the branches and ready to treat those who will be found with COVID 19 after having undergone RDT testing.
According to Jackson Chekweko, RHU Executive Director, several Ugandans from various regions and districts of are shying away from the COVID 19 RDT testing services despite efforts by the health ministry, public and private entities effortlessly popularizing the services. This is because of lack of skilled personnel, services in some parts of the country and the high cost paid for the RDT testing.
“We therefore call upon the public to embrace the services RHU is offering with its wide network of clinics throughout Uganda, in the quest to fight COVID 19 in Uganda, †Chekweko says.
Chekweko says RDT testing at RHU will start with Owino, Bwaise and Katego clinics in Kampala and those in the central region of Uganda like Luweero, Mityana and Iganga inclusive as pilots.
Currently RDT tests undertaken from various accredited health centres in Uganda go for a minimum of 50,000 shillings.
The President was Wednesday presiding over the swearing-in of the last batch of Ministers including Hon. Wilson Muruli Mukasa Minister of Public Service, Hon. Sam Mangusho Cheptoris, Minister of Water and Environment and Hon. Kyakulaga Fred Bwino Minister of State for Agriculture Animal Industrial and Fisheries in charge of Agriculture.
The oaths were administered by Ms. Deborah Katuramu the Deputy Head of Public Service and Deputy Secretary to Cabinet.
“This kisanja is not for talking. I congratulate all the ministers for being elected. Two went through elections, Cheptoris and Kyakulaga while for Muruli Mukasa we agreed,†he said.
The President urged cohesion in the new cabinet in order to implement the programmes of NRM government enthusiastically adding that corruption must not be entertained.
He also called on them to lay emphasisb on the integration of East Africa Community so that the issue of the market for Ugandan products can to be resolved.
This is the last group of Ministers to be sworn in before the President, the first one having been sworn in on Monday 21st June 2021 and 8th July, 2021 respectively. President Museveni was gifted an artist impression of himself by the son of Hon. Muruli Mukasa.
]]>Covid-19: Museveni makes u-turn, to address Ugandans on Friday not Saturday as lockdown comes to an endhttps://www.watchdoguganda.com/news/20210728/118173/covid-19-museveni-makes-u-turn-to-address-ugandans-on-friday-not-saturday-as-lockdown-comes-to-an-end.html Wed, 28 Jul 2021 19:31:16 +0000https://www.watchdoguganda.com/?p=118173President Yoweri Museveni will be addressing the nation on the status of Covid-19 on Friday 31 July, 2021, not Saturday as earlier communicated by his Senior Presidential Press Secretary Lindah Nabusayi.This is according to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja.
“H.E The President will address the Nation on #COVID19 this Friday July 30, 2021 at 08:00pm . In the meantime, stay calm and continue observing SOPs and other Presidential directives,â€Nabbanja tweeted on Wednesday.
The address will be aired live on all Television and radio stations in Uganda.
The President’s address comes at a time when the National Covid-19 Taskforce is pushing for an extension of the lockdown.
In an Interview with NTV Uganda on Monday, with a few days left to the end of the 42-day lockdown instituted by President Museveni, the Chief Epidemiologist at the Covid-19 Taskforce, Dr. Monica Musenero said lifting coronavirus containment protocols before mass vaccination will have repercussions.
She said government aims to inoculate 22 million people, about half of the country’s population, to enable the economy to fully re-open.
“This is a tough time. Its because we are fighting a very dangerous enemy. This walk hasn’t been easy but here we are, we have achieved something together, with the lockdown in place, we have managed to bring down the cases, which were just climbing astronomically and soon we shall start to see a steady decline in death due to Covid-19,†Dr. Musenero said.
She said that as country ends the 42 days announced by the President Museveni, “we need to wait for guidance from His Excellencyâ€.
Dr. Musenero said government has been frustrated by the difficulties in accessing
the vaccines but the praised lockdown, saying “it was in itself meant to push down numbersâ€.
“The lockdown helped us ro bring down numbers, you all saw the deaths, hospitals were filled to capacity, but we managed to contained that. The lockdown has helped us so much in stopping the spread,†she added.
While announcing a total lockdown on 18 July, 2021, President Museveni suspended private and public transport for 42 days to control the ravaging cases of Covid-19.
“For 42 days, there should be no movement of private cars, boda bodas or public transport across districts. Vehicles will only be allowed to move if they are carrying a sick person,†Museveni asserted.
“It has been observed that Taxis/ Boda-Bodas drop passengers at district boundaries (relay system) to be taken over by their colleagues waiting across the boundary districts which may result in further spread of the virus in communities.Additionally, it has also been observed that despite this directive, human beings walk across district boundaries. This therefore has not achieved its intended purpose.â€
Museveni further noted that private vehicles and boda bodas will only be allowed to transport patients if they possess a recommendation letter from LC, RDC or a competent health facility.
Museveni also revised curfew time from 9pm- 6pm to 7pm to 5.30am.
“It is observed that some sections of the public are not adhering to the curfew hours.As such, curfew throughout the country is pulled back to 7pm to 5.30am, Boda-Bodas will only be allowed to move only up to 5pm.â€
The President also suspended operations of business centres, places of worship and schools.
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