Budaka Residents protest over District leaders keeping COVID infections a secret

Residents of Budaka Town council, Budaka District are planning to storm the district headquarters in protest over the mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in the area.

The residents led by Moses Botte have petition State House medical department, Permanent Secretaries for Ministries; Health and Local Government, security operatives, and the media claiming that district officials are taking the infections in the area lightly.

A copy of their petition has been presented to the Resident District Commissioner (RDC).

“We appreciate the efforts you have put in suppressing the virus since its outbreak in the district, However you are aware some cases of COVID 19 have been sighted amongst district staff, but to our surprise instead of all staff being taken to quarantine centers, their samples were taken and the premises disinfected before use, they have allowed all staff freely in operation and interacting in public places which poses a big threat to the whole district,” the petition dated  September 26 reads in part.

Last week, two officials from the district tested positive, and they were whisked away to Mbale hospital, however, their contacts were never traced and quarantined.

Now the petitioners are recommending the operations be temporally halted with all staff member’s put under quarantine, samples were taken for examination, disinfection of the premises and the district task force reignites its surveillance and massive sensitization of locals to be able to live with the virus especially when schools and Churches are due to reopen.

The residents have given a 24-hour ultimatum to see results.

Meanwhile, when contacted the RDC Budaka Mr. Martin Orochi who doubles as the chairperson district task force acknowledged receipt of the petition but claimed just two infections can not call for the closure of the district offices.

“If districts like Kapchorwa, Mbale, Butaleja who registered a high number of cases didn’t close why the rush to close Budaka? In any case, I am not big enough to do that,” he said.

” I am not ready to be pushed to by any individual to take that naive decision though we appreciate the concerns raised,” he added.

He advised the petitioners to go slow.

Dr. Erisa Mulwani the DHO Budaka also lambasted the petitioners saying they are idiot’s and they don’t know what they are doing.

 

“Tell them instead of causing havoc, let them go slow and above all let them wear masks, practice social distance and wash hands,” he said.

 

He confirmed that apart from the two cases, all samples taken from staff member’s have turned out negative.

 

 

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