ABIM – There is reported tension rising in Abim district, Karamoja as residents were reportedly planning to attack one of the hotels where two Chinese nationals have been put under mandatory quarantine.
The Chinese nationals (names withheld) arrived in Abim on March 13, reportedly on a survey for an electricity project for the Rural Electrification Agency.
Both the Abim district health officer Dr. Alfred Okengo and Resident District Commissioner Samuel Mpimpaza Hashaka say the matter is being handled and have asked the residents to keep calm.
Some of the residents who talked to PML Daily say the residents feel insecure amid the theories of the origin of the Coronavirus.
One of the residents Mr. Patrick Owili appealed to the health officials in the district to clarify the situation and calm emotions.
Another resident Ms Jennifer Acheng said the hotel owners needed to calmly explain the issue to the public to stem a possible confrontation.
We are not comfortable with the presence of these Chinese we are worried and the government has to do something about these people, “he said.
Dr. Alfred Okengo the Abim district health officer confirmed the presence of the two Chinese nationals but said they were well managesc and have not presented signs of the Coronavirus.
“Yes we have those two Chinese working on the power line under the Rural Electrification Agency and they have been there since”.
However, the visas of these two Chinese nationals that PML Daily has seen shows that the two entered Uganda on March, 13 2020 and proceeded to Abim district on March 22, but it not clear whether they were quarantined at Entebbe Airport.
Mr. Samuel Hashaka Mpimbasa the resident district commissioner said the is concern about the presence of the two Chinese nationals saying he has made the communication to Kampala.
“I am waiting for the advice from Kampala on what to do with these two Chinese nationals otherwise the public is not happy,” he said.
