President Yoweri Museveni has warned Ugandans against associating with ministers who recently traveled to Dubai for the ongoing World Trade Fair saying they risk catching coronavirus or even death due to COVID-19.
Museveni made remarks in his Independence speech, as Uganda marked the 59th Independence Anniversary at Kololo Airstrip in Kampala on Saturday.
Museveni also warned Ugandans, as well as government officials, against unnecessary travels abroad to avoid getting infected with covid. To reaffirm this, Museveni said, tests have confirmed that three members of his entourage he traveled with to Dubai have contracted coronavirus.
“Be careful with those ministers!.. Although the leadership in Dubai are very strict and all people in my entourage had been checked and vaccinated against covid-19, three of my people were found to be positive with coronavirus.” President Museveni said.
Museveni also stated that one of the cases confirmed positive, travelled with him on the same plane, being the mechanic of his presidential jet. He said he was reluctant to travel abroad fearing the risk of COVID-19 infection but was pursuaded to travel to Dubai.
The president, however, noted that on arrival, he undertook a covid test which came out negative, pending another one in a few days to confirm his status.
“So, please, avoid these unnecessary travels abroad. Simanyi bannaUganda kyemunoonya eyo gyemutera okwenjjeera! Minimise those travels; you dont need to travel” Museveni added; “I would like to warn you to stop running around and to stop traveling outside”
Museveni made his first trip outside Africa this week when he traveled on a 3-day state visit to United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Dubai city, for the ongoing world trade fair dubbed Dubai Expo 2020. On his way home, Museveni later attended the innauguration ceremony of Ethiopia Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy.
President Museveni said two of the infected members of his entourage got the virus from Dubai while one got the virus from Ethiopia.
“I was abit reluctant but then I was pursuaded that I would pass through Ethiopia to attend the inauguration of the Prime Minister..” He noted.
In his speech, Museveni said, Uganda managed to withstand big challenges in the last two year, including the locust invasion, rising levels of lakes, floods and landslides, as well as minimising the fatalities due to COVID-19 pademic.
He said, by doing so, Uganda demonstrated capacity and resilience to withstand adversities and affirms huge prospects of a strong and independent economy.
