KAMPALA, UGANDA, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the country’s Health Minister confirmed Saturday that the East African nation had recorded its first case of COVID-19.
Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng said the person who tested positive for COVID-19 had traveled from Dubai with other 85 passengers, who were not put under isolation.
According to authorities, a 36-year-old Ugandan male who arrived from Dubai at 2 a.m. Saturday (2300GMT), aboard Ethiopian Airlines, presented symptoms of high fever and poor appetite and was evacuated to Entebbe Grade B Hospital for further follow up, where a nasal swab was taken for analysis and it was confirmed that he was COVID-19 positive.
Though the government said it was tracing the contacts of other passengers who were on the plane with this patient and urged calm, noting that there is no need for panic or worry (provided people abide by the measures put in place to prevent the spread of the disease to other parts of the country), many people are already in fear and are looking for alternative measures since many believe COVID-19 has no cure.
Herbalists and other medical personnel have taken advantage of people’s fears and are selling them fake vaccinations and hand sanitizers and Ugandans are buying them at a very high rate.
Even before Uganda announced its first COVID-19 case, some people had already started selling fake coronavirus vaccines. In the eastern part of the country, a herbalist and his daughter were arrested for selling them. Sayid Kayire and his Amiina Kayire were last week arrested and detained at Mayuge central police station after trading fake coronavirus vaccines in Wante village, Imanyiro Sub County but have since been released on police bond.
According to a police statement, the two confessed that the herbs were indeed meant for cough and flu but that they had re-labelled them as coronavirus drugs to earn more money from the public.
The Police in Kampala also arrested a couple, this time for allegedly selling a fake sanitizer claiming that it kills coronavirus. Stephen Night and his wife Aisha Namawejje were arrested Thursday morning last week after police got information that a company was making fake sanitizer. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said their investigators are looking for more information before they could prepare a charge sheet for the suspects.
In the midst of the coronavirus outbreak, public health officials have made it clear: there is no pill, vaccine or supplement that can cure or prevent the virus.
Uganda has now closed airports, borders, and schools including universities but banks, hospitals, supermarkets and markets are operating on the condition that they must adhere to hygiene measures and also provide their workers and those that come into their establishment with sanitizers.
The movement restrictions will affect Easter festivities and religious services — but Museveni said it was better for citizens to err on the side of caution.
“The prayers will continue but in homes. The religious leaders can use the TVs, radios stations to continue preaching. His Holiness, Pope Francis, as usual set a good example of enlightenment on this by abandoning his customary preaching in St. Peters’ Square and is instead, using the TV,” Museveni said.
While addressing the public on measures to contain the deadly disease on Sunday, March 22, 2020, President Museveni appealed to Ugandans to minimize the use of public transport if they are to stop the spread of coronavirus.
“The wisdom to close schools, suspend church meetings, political rallies and mosques were timely. Where we are, the only remaining danger is public transport,” Mr Museveni, franked by Health minister Jane Ruth Aceng and other government officials said at a press conference at Nakasero State Lodge.
“If you do not have your own means of transport, stay at home. I am appealing to all public transport means to minimize the use. I appeal to operators to not allow anyone with flu symptoms to use public means. They should also have temperature monitors at the bus parks,” he added.
Just like other countries all over the world continue to contemplate on how to suppress coronavirus disease infections, the Ministry of Health in Uganda is also advising the masses on preventive measures. Such measures include; compulsory handwashing with soap, no handshaking or hugs, and compulsory use of sanitizers around public places, among others.