KAMPALA – President Museveni has okayed the proposal by the National Taskforce on Covid-19 to extend the current lockdown by another three weeks, PML Daily has learnt.
A meeting chaired by President Museveni on Easter Monday resolved that it would be risky to relax the current restrictions when so many contacts of potential Covid-19 patients have not been tested.
Besides, it was also agreed that while Uganda has registered relative success in the fight against the disease, we are still at risk given our neighbors like Kenya and Rwanda have many positive cases.
The President approved the proposal.
The meeting was attended by among others, Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, Health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, Kampala ministers Betti Amongi and Benny Namugwanya, among others.
The President is expected to announce the extension on Tuesday in his address announced by his press secretary, Don Wanyama.
The government has been emboldened by the rising negative cases in the test samples tested everyday, raising hope that the country is winning the battle against the virus.
In the same vein, at least 22 positive patients have recovered and more will be discharged soon.
On Easter Sunday, presidential press secretary Don Wanyama was forced to dismiss a tweet attributed to the President as saying that that he had extended the lockdown.
“Good people. This is fake. The President hasn’t tweeted this. The Cabinet and national taskforce on Covid-19 will meet tomorrow despite being Easter Monday. The President will guide the country thereafter. Please disregard these concoctions.”
The development comes amid concerns that the lockdown is affecting the economy as businesses remain closed.
Nevertheless, the World Health Organization has warned countries against relaxing the current restrictions on account of registering reduced cases.
