By Spy Uganda
President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has extended the Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown for more 21 days, meaning it will have to end on May 5th, 2020, as government monitors the health situation in Uganda.
The President revealed this during his 10th national address on Coronavirus, during which he revealed that there is currently no need to rush to lift the lockdown, hence the lockdown will continue from April 15 to May 5, 2020.
“Let’s not be impatient. Let’s wait for another 21 days and we really try to see. Let’s not be like a woman who wants to deliver at 8 months. These methods seem to have worked. Up to 13th April tweny-tweny yesterday, we had tested 5,664 people with only 54 of those positive. 4015 were returnees from abroad 1232 were contacts of the returnees. 402 were people who got worried,” Museveni said.
He added that; “If we didn’t have the problem of asymptotic careers, we would say that there are now no infected Ugandans but we can’t say that now because there could be some silent carriers. These 54 may not be the only ones.
“Given the success, the government has decided to keep the current stay home for another three weeks. All the measures previously announced will stay in place for another 21 days,” the President noted.
Uganda now becomes the longest country with lockdown, next to India.
About Cargo transporters road and air entering Uganda, Museveni said that “They should continue entering but stay at designated hotels and under watch by security and Ministry of Health, where they will be tested. They may leave before getting test results but they will be followed up.”
“In addition to our domestic tests, our people started testing the inter state cargo drivers. Tested 372 drivers who entered through Malaba and they were all negative. So you people are fearing nothing,” Museveni said.
Museveni also revealed that due to the precautions being undertaken he has been forced to stop Ministers from attending cabinet meetings.
“I have sent way a few cabinet Ministers for coughing and among the 5000 people that we are following up on, some of them are my big people.”
He also cautioned children who were sent home to desist from hanging in trading centres but to help their parents. “I hear the children who were sent home on holiday, instead of helping their parents, they are in the trading centers. What are you doing in the trading center? Be in the gardens with your parents, it is better for health.
Commenting about the high levels of poverty in the country Museveni said that; “If you were poor before Coronavirus, but you’re eating, continue eating. We shall handle your poverty after Coronavirus. This is simply focusing on the people who were eating from hands to mouth.”
He also revealed that “With infiltration from neighboring countries, we are relying on LC1s not to allow strangers in their communities. The corrupt border police and immigration. Security is going to enhance vigilance and anyone found guilty will be charged for murder,”
About bicycles and Boda-Bodas, Museveni said that “Boda-Bodas and bicycles should also stop operations at 2:00pm. But maybe let’s first study the issue first. Boda Bodas were being used for crime at night. But if it is still day time, we can study the situation and see.”
Museveni also clarified that RDCs should delegate persons who receive calls for emergency movement permits by residents during the COVID19UG lockdown instead of letting queues grow at their offices and their teams should work in shifts
He noted that the government of Uganda is watching East and Central African neighbour border points to prevent infiltration of COVID-19 from other countries as Uganda attempts to prevent more infections. He tasked LCs to prevent illegal entry.
