Uganda COVID-19 Cases Hit 100 Mark as 2 Foreign Truck Drivers Test Positive on Wednesday

The Ministry of Health has confirmed two new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total number of infections in Uganda to 100.

“Today, 6 May, 2020, 2 new COVID-19 case confirmed from 3,071 samples of truck drivers,” said Dr Henry Mwebesa, Director General Health Services.

Mwebesa said the new cases arrived from Kenya via Malaba; and are Eritrean and Kenyan nationalities.

“All 438 community samples have tested negative for COVID-19,” he said, adding, “Total COVID-19 confirmed cases are 100.”

Health Minister Dr Ruth Aceng recently said the rapid assessment exercise being carried out across the country would establish the prevalence of COVID-19 among communities in Uganda.

She further said the survey would “evaluate if there is community transmission of COVID-19 in Uganda and establish the extent of community transmission, if confirmed.”

The rapid assessment exercise has been identifying cases of COVID-19 since this past Friday, raising fears of possible unknown transmissions in rural communities in Uganda.

President Museveni on Monday ordered 14 more days of a national lockdown to prevent further spread of the virus.

He said the issue of truck drivers being infected with COVID-19 would be addressed by regional leaders.

“… cargo can be transferred to the railway and the ships/wagon ferries. The Uganda Railways, only needs to sort out the issue of locomotives.  However, there are no railway lines going all the way to South Sudan, Congo and Rwanda,” said Museveni.

“There, we need to continue using the trucks. Nevertheless, the old line fully functional, would reduce the lorry trips to may be Bihaanga, Kasese and Pakwach for vehicles from South Sudan, Congo and Rwanda. Therefore, all Ugandans need to know that it is suicidal to agitate for the banning of Lorries for now.  Let us first work on the rail and water transport. Moreover, what needs to be done is for the grand-daughters to keep away from these drivers. They will also be told to only stop in certain areas.”