KAMPALA – President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that the national Covid-19 taskforce will meet on Tuesday, September 1, 2020, to review the possibility a phased reopening of schools starting with candidate classes and clinical medical students.
In a social media post, the President noted that the task force has also been tasked to review the status of other remaining sectors such as churches, weekly markets, the tourism sector, and Entebbe international airport.
“The review will also include the status of the entertainment industry such as bars, cinemas, nightclubs and sports events,” he said.
Minister for ICT Judith Nabakooba revealed that thereafter the team will provide a report to the President on these issues by early next week.
“He will then address the nation on the next steps forward,” she said.
Full statement
It was an honour for First Lady Janet and myself to host the National Prayers for COVID 19 at State House Entebbe.
I am happy that the religious leaders and my own views are now converging on the subject of humans taking dominion of the earth as instructed by God.
In 1962, we had a scripture union youth camp in Nabugabo where people were saying the role of Christians was to just pray, avoid work and that God would take care of us. I didn’t agree.
Then in 1965, I brought a motion that we should condemn Ian Smith of Rhodesia for oppressing people but the Christians refused, instead accusing me of backsliding. That’s how I left the scripture union and went into some other work.
There’s no doubt that God punishes people once they get out of the way. This problem of COVID 19 came from eating bats. Ebola came from eating monkeys. The issue of what to eat must be addressed. People should never have eaten bats or monkeys.
Let’s listen to what God is telling us but also discipline ourselves and use our God-given knowledge to solve these problems. Unlike AIDS, we shall get a vaccine and cure for Covid-19. But in the meantime, let us avoid it by being disciplined.
The Bible actually supports some of the SOPs we are emphasising. Numbers 5 verses 1-3 talks of isolation and social distancing. Luke 17:1-11 shows the same. The lepers stood at a distance from Jesus.
I am glad that the majority of Ugandans listened to our message. There is a minority that doesn’t listen and still pose a problem. The saying goes, “Too many cooks spoil the broth.” In Kampala, people listen to multiple advice, explaining why cases are highest here.
Out of the 29 who have died, 20 are from Kampala.
I would like to use this occasion to appeal to Ugandans that (Obwato buffa magoba) the boat disintegrates as it nears the shore. We have a few months to finish this issue but we should not fail now.
The national Covid-19 taskforce will meet on Tuesday to see what to do with the schools, churches, bars, and others. But people should be the custodians of their own health.
I got this idea of special prayers from Bishop Kwefuga of Kiruhura and I agreed to it. I thank him.
I congratulate all the Ugandans for praying because the scripture says Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and the door shall be opened to you.
God bless you all.
