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Fear of another lockdown

Uganda yet to see worst

Whereas the Health ministry insists that all cases being reported among contacts of truck drivers are under quarantine, the increase in such cases and those being reported in districts like Kampala that are not on the border are worrying. Some reports indicate that there a few community cases whose source of infecting contact is known.

Dr. Atwine says, for now, instead of Ugandans being worried of another COVID-19 lockdown they should seriously adapt the measures put in place to control the pandemic. Such measures include washing hands with soap, wearing face masks, and keeping social distance of at least two metres apart, and avoiding unnecessary movements into public places.

Analysts say Uganda’s COVID-19 planners made two strategic decisions that were correct but not right. One was rushing into locking down the country when it had zero cases and the other was easing the lockdown just when the confirmed infections were beginning to rise and had not peaked. These decisions have impacted on how the country can move forward.

Many Ugandans now appear opposed to another lockdown. The current lockdown has eased sporadically. On June 4 public transport was partially allowed country except border districts. But borders and air travel, schools, places of worship, large gatherings remain locked. And infections are rising significantly.

Dr. Atwine says the first lockdown was perfect given that “it helped us delay the infections especially when our neighbours were reporting high numbers of COVID-19 infections. The first lockdown helped us a lot to minimise the movements and it was critical to our fight against this pandemic. It was a timely decision. When you compare the number of infections in countries in the region and on the continent, Uganda still has the least number of infections.”

She argues that there is no perfect time for lockdown. “Each country looks at prevailing circumstances, and then decides whether to lockdown. So there is no formula for COVID-19 lockdown,” Dr. Atwine says.

But Dr. Musenero says Uganda is yet to see the worst due to complacency. She says Ugandans are no longer afraid of COVID-19 and have abandoned wearing masks and social distancing.

She says Uganda’s health system used the lockdown to prepare itself, but the Ugandans who were supposed to benefit from it will see no benefits if there is no behavioral change.

Data from the health ministry shows that at the time when Uganda confirmed its first case on March 21, the level of awareness and fear of COVID-19 stood at 60%. Recently, the fear of the disease among the population has reduced to as low as 20% in some parts of the country.

It seems Ugandans are more worried of a lockdown than of catching COVID-19. This could be due to lockdown’s paralysing effect on people’s socioeconomic welfare.

In his Heroes’ Day address, President Museveni his government was carefully easing the COVID-19 lockdown with a hope that Ugandans will keep discipline and follow guidelines from the Ministry of Health to minimise the spread of the virus. He said it does not make sense for the police to enforce physical/social distancing, wearing of masks, etc. “given that it’s your life”.

He warned Ugandans who are questioning the relevance of safety measure when Ugandans are not dying of COVID-19.

“I have done my part warning you against this disease. Stay at home and avoid unnecessary travel,” the President said, ““If you want proof that Coronavirus kills, you will get it.”

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10 comments

  1. The SOLUTION is simple- TELL President Museveni, “NO MORE LOCKDOWNS” nor silly Masks, which do more harm than good, nor “Social Distancing” whicih is designed only to make people FEAR each other, PERIOD !

    Does it not make you suspicious when they call it “Social Distancing” rather than “Physical Distancing” ??? The KEY WORD is “Social”

    How has Mankind survived, advanced and even increased in population, for millions of years, without that nonsense, before???

    TRUTH ? The WEALTHY and POWERFUL are creating this COVID and other FRAUDS,, such as WARS, because they are AFRAID of losing their CONTROL over us as our Growing NUMBERS, KNOWLEDGE and DISCERNMENT present a threat to their Slave SYSTEM hold on us.

    Your COUSINS in America are starting to see that truth

    • I have just read a scientific article describing how people who believe in conspiracy theories, such as the views of FREESPIRIT have a Fundamental Cognitive Problem

      • Have you ever “Read”‘ in “Scientific articles” about “‘GATEKEEPERS”and./or “Controlled Opposition” ??

        You have much to learn,sonny !

        I have been spreading TRUTH, such as that, since the late 1960’s ,probably when you weren’t even a “TWINKLE “in your Mommy and Daddy’ eyes. I’m 79 years young

        If you are Black African then you should be ashamed of yourself, DELIBERATELY leading your BRETHREN astray, on behalf the WEALTHY Supremacist CORRUPT WHITE Zionist man

        You do know what a ZIONIST is, do you not?

        Here is Brother Nathanel, a former Jew, telling TRUTH about “His” people: http://www.realjewnews.com/?p=1446

        I’m guessing you believe you KNOW MORE than he does ,about his own “People and that he is a Conspiracy Theorist also ?

        If you consider yourself a Journalist, or “wannabe”, my suggestion is get another Job.

        Thanks for you infantile nonsense however

  2. I think there shouldnt be reopening of schools for more safty. All the measures like buying radios and tvs is a waste of resourses and it will cause a lot of enemities among ugandan. Lets some money be used for school mentainance creation of more schools as school resume next year after the pamdamic

  3. Educate yourself from ignorance and stupidity otherwise we shall decorate our graves and multiple the grave.

  4. let them supply the masks to the whole country not within kampala city only

  5. President’s guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 virus are very fine and effective BUT the problem is the people he is working with, some of them are just selfish and others are his best enemies, they are trying very hard to destroy his image. forexample: the maize flour that he sent to communities did not reach the people as he the president had suggested instead the maize flour was sold and the other balance is kept in their stores? as if that was not enough, the president suggested that free masks be distributed to border districts during his last speech to the community that beginning with 9th June all the border districts shall receive masks, where are they? Rukungiri District is among the border district but we have never received anything. Is it because of our leaders? RDCs should check up if we are to get ride of this pandemic disease of COVID 19. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOURS AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF! GOD’S COMMANDMENT.

  6. We must learn to stay with corona virus
    Just like fluenza.

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