KAMPALA – Aruu County MP Odonga Otto on Wednesday mobilised Acholi leaders and residents to intercept and return to Kampala a Ugandan cargo transporter who on Tuesday tested positive for Covid-19.
The Health ministry on Tuesday confirmed the country’s 55th case to be a 38-year-old Ugandan driver who turned positive out of the 372 truck drivers tested on Tuesday.
He was tested at Malaba border post on Tuesday upon arrival from Kenya but was allowed to proceed to deliver cargo to its destination as President Museveni advised.
The ministry of Health notified him of his results later when he had reached northern Uganda. He was picked at a road block in Oyam District.
They then sent an ambulance to take him to Gulu Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.
However, on learning that the ambulance had been dispatched to transfer the patient to Gulu referral hospital, MP Otoo posted recording a video and posted on social media at about 8:00om mobilizing Acholi leaders to immediately rush and block the ambulance before it delivers the patient to Gulu.
The video that was wildly circulated within a short time forced the leaders to rush and intercepted the vehicle around Minakulu trading centre and forced it to turn to Kampala.
Mr Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health senior public relations officer confirmed that the driver had been moved to Entebbe Grade B hospital for treatment.
“That driver we confirmed the other day that he was positive and he has been delivered for treatment,” he said by telephone.
He said the delay in getting the patient for treatment was because of the president’s directive which allowed the truckers to proceed with their journey and would be traced afterwards once found to be positive.
“We have also picked the other two persons who were with him in the truck and we are monitoring them as well as tracing their contacts,” Mr Ainebyoona said.