By Isaac Ojok
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| His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni the President of the Republic of Uganda |
The President made the directive on Wednesday evening at State House, Entebbe, while addressing the nation on the level of preparedness in combating the Coronavirus pandemic, advising Religious leaders to use the television and radio stations to continue preaching the Gospel to Christians.
According to President Museveni, it is timely for religious leaders to emulate His Holiness Pope Francis who has already set a good example in taking initiatives and laying strategies to combat the Coronavirus by abandoning his customary preaching in St Peter’s square but instead using the television and radio to preach to the Christians.
The President who commended the Holy Father for being a courageous and charismatic spiritual leader said it is unnecessary for any religious leader in the country to gather Christians in Church, conscious of the danger of Coronavirus but without the capacity to protect them from infection.
Flanked by Ministers, health experts, and the head of security, the President revealed that, the directive to have all churches, schools and other political gatherings closed, will run for 32 days starting on Friday 20th March 2020 at 12:00 noon and the country shall continue to monitor the situation as public takes precautions.
He further revealed that he had earlier thought of closing the churches, schools and other social gatherings before the cases of COVID-19 could be confirmed in the neighboring countries such as Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania although as of 18th March 2020 Uganda had no confirmed case of Coronavirus.
The President has ordered all wedding ceremonies to be postponed and restricted to only 10 key stakeholders for those who are already in the process of wedding.
Regarding funerals, President Museveni directed that they be conducted only for close relatives of the deceased in a bid to deter people from contracting the COVID-19, while public gatherings and political mobilization shall also be postponed for 32 days.
President Museveni also directed the Ministry of Health to provide standard operation procedures for markets and fishing communities to counteract the Coronavirus.
He urged Ugandans to refrain from travelling to high risk countries. However, “Only Ugandans coming from such high risk countries shall be allowed to come into the country and they shall be subjected to mandatory institutional and self-isolation for 14 days.
The President assured the country that Uganda is prepared to handle the Coronavirus just as it has earlier done in the past when there was an outbreak of the Ebola virus.
He has appealed to all Ugandans to remain calm and to seriously take the precautions and guide lines issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health in a move to monitor and control the outbreak of the COVID-19 in the Country.
Among the precautions the President emphasized are to refrain from open- air coughing or sneezing in public; hand shaking; and hugging. He has put emphasis on regular hand washing, using sanitizers and people to have diets that can strengthen body immunity as recommended by health experts.
The President concluded his address by saying he is going to organize special prayers together with religious leaders at State House, Entebbe, to entrust the country in the hands of God.
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