President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni yesterday addressed the nation on the steps being undertaken by the government of Uganda to combat the threat of the global pandemic, Covid-19 that has ravaged many countries worldwide. Flanked by the Minister of Health Dr Ruth Aceng, General Museveni outlined a number of key steps that we as a country shall have to follow so as to reduce the impact and spread of the dangerous virus.
Many governments worldwide have been widely criticized for failure to act swiftly and decisively in the wake of the pandemic especially the European countries something that has led to the global rise of new cases and deaths that have threatened to weaken their economies and ability to effectively control the virus’ spread.
The step was one of valor and courage as many of the measures require a lot of sacrifice on behalf of the people. However, the confidence and nature of the address left little doubt in the minds of Ugandans that the government especially the leadership has a plan which if keenly followed by the citizens shall indeed defeat the pandemic. Flights from a number of category one countries mainly in Europe have been effectively banned from landing in Uganda and anyone intending to visit those countries should not expect to return for a period of one month. Schools and mass gatherings around the country have also been closed for one month so as to deny the virus large group sectors to spread.
President Yoweri Museveni has had a long history of combating disease epidemics starting from as early as the 1970’s where he describe the epidemic at the time to be the rule of Iddi Amin Dada which led to widespread deaths of Ugandans. The NRM also had to fight head-on the outbreak of HIV/AIDS in the 80’s and 90’s, Ebola three times and Cholera multiple times, battles that have earned Uganda a worldwide reputation for defeating disease outbreaks.
Museveni also took the opportunity to warn political saboteurs against using the pandemic as a campaign gimmick ahead of the general elections and called upon people to resist such meaningless mass gatherings as they perpetrate the spread of the virus.
The President also called on Ugandans to employ the same spirit as they have done before when faced with national calamity and expressed confidence in our ability to stick together and adhere to regulations.
