President Yoweri Museveni says that out of 176 samples tested by the health ministry on Tuesday, 11 of them – all of them children – returned positive, lifting the total number of confirmed cases to 44.
This was during the Tuesday address in which the president sought to clarify some of the measures aimed at curbing the spread of Covid-19.
All the new cases were already in quarantine, something the president was happy about since this limits the spread of the deadly disease.
On RDCs, bank and media
Meanwhile, Museveni said the Minister for the Presidency will instruct RDCs to install dedicated people to stay on duty all the time (and man the call centers) – without them (the RDCs) having to be their physically.
He also said that the LC5 chairman who slapped a female RDC “should be arrested for beating a Ugandan”.
The LC5 chairman in question is James Ategeka Mugarama of Bunyangabu district, who was caught on camera smacking the district resident district commissioner, Jane Asiimwe.
Museveni says whoever commits such an act is an “idiot!”.
About the issue of banks, the president explained that the people who work in banks will get stickers for their vehicles from the works and transport ministry. But he tells bank customers to either walk to the bank or to use the mobile option to transact.
He also noted that the media is an essential service provider and should operate too.
“Yes, the media should continue to operate. Their vehicles will also get stickers – to be handled by the works and transport ministry,” added the President, who said the glitches encountered on the day after the announcement of the new measures emerged because “we were just starting”.
The President said the big “Ugandan-style” weddings can easily spread the virus. “Those ones are banned,” said the president.
But, just like he pointed out in his first set of measures a couple of days ago, if you must, you can do a scientific version of no more than 10 people present.
On Monday, the President banned gatherings of more than five people. That, then, got people confused.
Museveni clarified that in Monday’s new raft of measures, the gatherings he meant were of idle youths, who “play ludo” and stuff like that.
On exempted private cars and relief food
The vehicles exempted will have to bear stickers of exemption, said the President. He noted that private cars that do not have stickers shouldn’t be driven.
He said that there are supermarkets all over and that Ugandans should walk there and access the supplies.
The critical issue of distribution of food by the government to Ugandans who live hand-to-mouth was also brought to the President’s attention.
He said the Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, will clarify how specifically that will be done. On his part, Museveni says that food will be given to only those people identified in Kampala and in upcountry areas – and this could be for a month.
“But it will be done by the national taskforce because they will do it in a health-conscious way,” underlines the President, who again warns “shameless” people who are giving food to locals.
He says doing this puts these very people at risk of contracting coronavirus, adding that whoever wants to help should do it “institutionally” through the national taskforce.
“Your name will be registered and you will be identified as a good person,” he says.