President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has this morning converged for the virtual summit of the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
The meeting was attended by regional counterparts including Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya), Abiy Ahmed Ali (Ethiopia), Ismail Omar Guelleh (Djibouti), Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Somalia), Salva Kiir Mayadirt who was represented by Riek Machar (S.Sudan), and Abdalla Hamdok (Sudan).
Key on the agenda of this virtual summit was the regional response strategy to curb COVID-19, among others.
In a statement posted on his social media channels after the meeting, Mr Museveni said that he had briefed his counterparts on the measures Uganda has taken to avert the spread of coronavirus.
Mr Museveni advised the presidents to allow business across the region to continue, albeit following particular procedures.
“I also advised that the movement of cargo across the region be allowed to proceed, albeit under Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
I urged that all countries continue to facilitate the sectors of Industry and Agriculture such that we do not run out of food and other essential products while we fight coronavirus,” Mr Museveni said in his statement.