Uganda’s Prime Minister, standing center-left, addresses Members of Parliament in Kampala, Uganda Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. Ugandan police on Thursday fired tear gas to disperse protesters and arrested dozens of people opposed to plans to introduce legislation that could allow the longtime president Yoweri Museveni to extend his rule. (AP Photo/Ronald Kabuubi)
Uganda’s newspaper the Daily Monitor reveals details of a Covid-19 surge that has stalled activities in the country’s legislative body.
According to local sources, Parliament has ordered all members of Parliament to stay away from the House for a fortnight and Parliamentary staff reduced to a skeleton essential service providers.
The development comes after more than 200 legislators and Parliamentary staff tested positive for the Covid-19 virus. There’s now fear that the same could have infected their families with what appears to be a highly contagious strain of Covid-19.
Uganda imposed a total lockdown earlier this week following a reporting by the health ministry of 42 deaths in a single day.
In the past month, the country also lost nine doctors in fourteen days that includes a growing list of heath workers that have died due to the Covid-19 situation.
The Daily Monitor revealed that heightened activity in the House during the Elections of Speaker and his Deputy as well as the State of the Nation address and the Budget Day proceedings could have spurred the high rate of infections
Already 700 people have died countrywide while learning in schools and other public functions remain suspended.
Police were seen in the streets of Kampala strictly imposing the orders of total lockdown by President Museveni announced in televised night address.
Uganda has seen an upsurge of infections having been spared when the rest of Africa was under the first wave of attacks.
The Members of Parliament and staff have been ordered to self-quarantine and seek medical attention immediately.
Uganda’s president has few week ago has imposed lockdown due to the Covid-19 situation in the countr
But in the total lockdown announced last week , no public transport will be allowed for next 42 days, only cargo.
Uganda has between May 18 to June 18 also recorded 25, 685 new infections and 234 Ugandans have died due to Covid-19 in the last one month.
‘All cross boundary and inter-district movement of public or private transport is banned for 42 days starting June 18 (10pm local time). The movement of persons needs to be stopped since it is the cornerstone of the rise in cases,’’ President Museveni announced in televised last Friday night address.
The East African nation has also revised curfew times to 7pm from 9pm among many other protocols.
Bodabodas are barred from carrying passengers save for sick people with letters from local council authorities. Boda Bodas can only move up to 5pm.
Essential sectors that may continue working include Security companies, Medical workers, vet doctors, Utility service providers like mass media, water, electricity etc
