Coronavirus: Ugandans Trapped in China Petition Parliament

Through their Members of Parliament (MPs) back home, Ugandan students trapped at the epicenter of the disastrous Coronavirus in Wuhan China have pleaded to government to devise ways of evacuating them.

Their request was conveyed by Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebagala Sengendo while raising a matter of national importance on Wednesday on the House Floor.

In the letter which was read verbatim, the students who include Katweere Prichard, Kanzira Thomas, Kansiime Jerome, Kikaayi Sharon among others say they are running out of necessities especially groceries in the prevailing lock down.

“Many shops have closed and besides, there is no more supply in the dormitory or the campus because of the ongoing coronavirus,” the students revealed.

As if that is not enough, the students in Hubei province say that there has even been shortage of masks amongst Ugandan students, which has further endangered their lives.

As such, they appealed to authorities in Kampala to exploit their closeness to Beijing and evacuate them like some countries have done saying they are not contagious.

“All students in Wuhan have been carefully quarantined for more than two weeks now which confirms their health in relation to the virus. However, in the event of any suspected risk, quarantine measures should be advisable when we are back,” they pleaded.

In the meantime, however, the students asked government to provide urgent financial support to mitigate their worrying financial state.

Supplementing on this issue, Speaker Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga revealed she had reached the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Uganda’s ambassador to China Dr. Crispus Kiyonga. As such, she warned those concerned against handling this matter in a sloppy manner.

On her part, Government’s Chief Whip Ruth Nankabiirwa revealed that they had been tasked by Premier Ruhakana Rugunda to study this matter deeply and are expected to report to his office this evening.

“Evacuating them and maintaining them in Uganda when they are here quarantined or sending logistics to help them where they are quarantined. The two possibilities are being discussed we don’t want our children to continue suffering,” Nankabiirwa stated.

However, it remains to be seen whether Uganda can engage in this risky venture given that countries like Nigeria which has about 70 students in Wuhan and South Africa have turned down calls to evacuate their citizens. With most Airlines stopping flights to mainland China, only Egypt has taken the brazen decision of repatriating citizens trapped there.

According to media reports, over 1100 people have so far died in China ever since the disease broke out in December 2019.