President Yoweri Museveni has said that he can no longer take the blame if Ugandans start dying of COVID-19. Museveni said his government has duly played its part in sharing with Ugandans all the relevant information that they need to stay to keep the virus at bay.
However, the president says Ugandans have continued to ignore the preventive measures of wearing a face mask, sanitizing surfaces and social distancing.
"When I pass through town there, people are not bothered. They say after all nobody has died, so they are not bothered. If you're looking for somebody to die you will get him. And when you start dying, don't say Museveni did not tell us. There is nothing we have not told you. We don't have to beg you, please; don't die, don't die, please don't die. No. We have told you exactly what the science says about this virus and how we can avoid it." Museveni said.
Although Uganda has not registered any coronavirus deaths yet, the number of infections continues to rise rapidly. Currently, Uganda's confirmed coronavirus cases stand at 657 with 118 recoveries.
Museveni said the reason why low infections and recoveries were recorded was because Ugandans were following his directives to the latter. Also, he said, it was because the number of infections were few and all the doctors focused on those patients. But with the rising number of infections, he said Ugandan might start seeing dead bodies.
"Now, it is as if it's the work of the police to be the ones to save you from dying. Why should it be the police? It should be yourselves. You should be the ones policing yourselves - not the police, not the LC…presidential directive. It is not my directive, it is just the information am giving you so that you stay alive." said Museveni.
Museveni further said some Ugandans take the virus as a joke and some think that even when they get infected with the virus, they will easily recover from the disease. He said he's heard that people have started congregating at burials and weddings. He said that must stop immediately with burials and weddings restricted to just 10 people.
"Those who were healed were healed because the numbers in the treatment centres were few and the doctors could concentrate on them. I appeal to you Ugandans for those whose activities we have opened up, observe the social distance, I beg you for the sake of yourself. Keep the distance, put on the mask don't go in public without a mask. The mask is not very comfortable but medicine apart from that of children, is bitter," Museveni said as he presided over the National Heroes Day celebrations at State House, Entebbe today.
Museveni said ministry of Health was planning for 9,000 coronavirus patients, he advised them to plan for 40,000 and that places like Namboole stadium are being prepared to treat a big number of people if cases continue to rise. But he warned, "if the numbers are too big, then they will overwhelm even the big place we have prepared."
The president added that Ugandan scientists are in advanced stages of looking for a coronavirus vaccine. He, however, cited corruption as the biggest impediment to the process.
"Parasites go to hell; I'm really tired of those people who don't care about the country but themselves," Museveni said.
According to Museveni, there is a high likelihood that Ugandan scientists will get the coronavirus medicine even before the Europeans get it if alone by the parasites. He further reiterated his two-decade song of fighting corruption, warning that "it is game over" for the corrupt officials in his government.
Museveni said the corrupt officials in his government prefer taking bribes and kickbacks and award contracts and procurements to foreign firms at the expense of local firms. Yet, he said, the local firms would help create several jobs for the local population.
Today's Heroes' Day celebrations were supposed to be held in Lyantonde district however due to the COVID-19 pandemic it was shifted to State House. Esther Mbayo, the minister for the Presidency said that even people who had been vetted to receive medals this year couldn't receive them because of the same issue.
Source
