Interview: From Dubai to Self-quarantine in Uganda: The Story of Star Lynda Ddane

Earlier this year, Lynda Ddane Uwamahoro traveled to Dubai, United Arab Emirates – a popular tourism destination for Ugandan celebrities.

“It was quite fun and refreshing,” recalled Ddane, as she is fondly known by her peers.

“I used the time to relax and try to set stuff up for an event trip whose dates were to be in June but may have to change a bit,” she recalls.

In Dubai, which later turned out to be an epicenter of the spread of Coronavirus, Ddane was planning for what has been dubbed the “Dubai Sweet Escape” – a weeklong party for Ugandans.

Ddane in the streets of Dubai

“It was more of rest and setting up for the event I have been planning on hosting there in June. So I was sight-seeing and also getting some footage for Wizkid appearance for my tv show … just loitering and sleeping.”

On returning to Uganda, Ddane, a presenter at NTV and now Radio City, had no idea what awaited her.

Little did she know Coronavirus was pushing countries to the edge.

Ddane, just like most Ugandan celebrities, enjoy trips to Dubai

European Governments were rushing to impose lockdowns and shutting public transport to stop the spread of the virus.

“When I came back, COVID-19 wasn’t really a pressing issue in Dubai … they hadn’t announced any cases yet. There had only been rumors going around),” said Ddane in an exclusive interview with ChimpReports on Easter Sunday.

“But when I got back here, it was the basic check at first – temperature and the yellow fever card thing … same old, same old.”

Health Minister Dr Ruth Aceng would later tell the nation that Dubai was not among ‘category 1” countries which had been severely hit by the novel virus.

These included China, Spain, France, Italy, Iran, Germany and South Korea.

Ddane says her parents were disturbed by the leaked list of Ugandans who had traveled to Dubai

Ddane was easily cleared by immigration officials at Entebbe International Airport back to the country.

“I wasn’t taken to quarantine; I infact started my new job (breakfast in the city) the morning after I arrived,” she recalled.

“I had no symptoms or whatever; but was advised to stay home by Ministry of health and Human Resource at my workplace… (which is self quarantine). I was given all the licenses to operate Live-U feeds and data for it  to be able to fully work from home,” she added.

“Considering the fact that my dates of arrival were in the clear of the 14 days that were being sought for and I presented absolutely no signs and neither did anyone who had been around me; I was not put under institutional quarantine but rather sent home and asked to isolate while being monitored …”

Very few of Ddane’s friends and workmates knew about her situation till a few weeks later.

Life in self quarantine

All folks under self quarantine are required to take regular tests.

“Tests are not as easy to get though. I recall going to Mulago National Referral Hospital three times in one week … It wasn’t funny but it was understandable that necessity beats anything else especially in situations like these,” said Ddane.

“So if it wasn’t necessary, one would first be put under monitoring.”

Stigma

Around the world there have been reports of individuals being subjected to verbal or even physical abuse as their ethnicity was unfairly associated with the virus.

Media reports show that Chinese students are hesitating to return to Europe and United States in part because of fears of continuing racism and stigma associated with Coronavirus.

In Uganda, Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda this past Saturday warned against mistreating people who have recovered from the virus.

“We ask communities to warmly welcome these friends of ours discharged today and reintegrate them properly in their respective areas,” said Rugunda.

Ddane told ChimpReports that her family was stressed when the list of Ugandans who had traveled to Dubai leaked on social media.

To celebrity Lynda Ddane, self-quarantine was not an easy experience

“My mom was worried especially when that silly list came out,” said Ddane.

“I was more of aggravated by it all … I was stressed out … everyone calling me Corona,” she added.

Words matter, and using language that perpetuates existing stereotypes can drive people away from getting tested and taking the actions they need to protect themselves and their communities.

Asked to shed more light on life in self quarantine, Ddane said “being away from people, however quiet, can be quite stressful; especially with all the stigma about the situation.”

She recounted: “My heart was like constantly running like at 6000 beats per minute and I even felt it had moved out of place and would pounding from my shoe.”

Ddane has since been declared free from COVID-19

Trying times

Ddane said Health officials would send teams to her house.

“They take the test which is quite uncomfortable and respond the same day with your results,” she said, adding, “I think the worst part is the waiting for test results.”

After enduring the tests and self-isolation, Ddane said she was “given a clear to resume functionality. So finally, I’m Not Corona. No more although I still do get mini heart attacks each time anything makes me sneeze. But I’m all good, by God’s grace.”

The Ministry of Health on Easter Sunday announced a new case of Coronavirus, bringing to 54 the total number of confirmed infections in the East African country.

As of Easter Sunday, a total of 244 individuals were still under institutional quarantine while 654 contacts to the confirmed cases were still under follow up.