NAKASERO – President Museveni has appealed to Ugandans to minimize the use of public transport if they are to stop the spread of coronavirus.
In his third address on measures to contain the deadly disease on Sunday, March 22, 2020, the President public transport is now his biggest worry as the country seeks to contain further spread of the disease after the country registered one case on Saturday.
“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 minimise 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.
The President further explained that the 36-year-old gentleman who tested positive was not sneezing or coughing and only had a fever.
“The Ministry of Health checked his family, it seems none is complaining of sickness. There is a strong likelihood that he picked the virus from Dubai,” he said.
Mr Museveni also explained that given the complication trying to control people from heavily affected countries, his government decided that we stop all passengers coming into or out of Uganda.
“We should save the base. Ugandans outside cannot come back in the middle of the fight. The only people who can come in are drivers and turn-boys of vehicles carrying cargo. They, however, should not be more than three because that is a manageable number,” he said.
Mr Museveni also insisted that “If we follow the NRA way, we shall defeat this virus. I am here to lead the people’s war against #COVID19UG. Like we fought AIDS, Ebola, murderers, and polio, we can fight this. We did all this by sensitising and telling people that we can win the fight against.”
On closing night clubs and bars, he said: “Workplaces include factories, hotels and offices. The advantage of the workplaces is that the people there are known. You can trace who is sick and minimise the spread. The problem with night clubs and bars is that they are ad hoc. Anybody can enter and that is where the danger is.”
