By Spy Uganda
The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has come out to clarify about alleged allegations that the army was planning to ban wearing of face masks branded with legislator Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine’s People Power political logo and symbols.
The rumour started making rounds on social media platforms that the UPDF had banned wearing of the said masks after the army Spokesperson, Brig. Richard Karemire told the nation during his address at the Uganda Media Centre on Thursday that not all masks were recommended for the fight against COVID-19.They had reportedly said the only masks allowed would be those ‘recommended by MoH.
However, in his latest tweet, Brig Karemire has refuted the allegations, by stating that UPDF has no such mandate. In his own words, Brig. Karemire tweeted thus; “Today I addressed the media at Uganda Media Centre. I didn’t declare that UPDF had banned use of certain types of masks. That is not within our mandate.Spy Reports Online paper put words into my mouth. Ugandans are urged to follow the guidelines given by the Ministry of Health.”
However, Brig. Karemire’s clarification came shortly after the State Minister of Finance for Investment and Privatization Hon. Evelyn Anite, had also warned citizens to desist from manufacturing or wearing masks that bear political marks or colors.
During a meeting with manufacturers on Tuesday at UMA hall, Minister Anite said that “Be sure that we shall not buy your masks if they have political party colors like Yellow, Red, Blue…..We’ll only take those with neutral colors, because we don’t want to politicize the masks,”.
