More Vaccines Secured as Uganda, Serbia Strengthen Ties

The government of Serbia says it will send 40,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccines to Uganda, following a visit by the foreign affairs minister Gen. Jeje Odongo.

Gen. Odongo, who had gone to the European nation to deliver a speech at the 60th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Commemorative Conference in Belgrade, also met his counterpart, Nikola Selaković, with whom they discussed "means to optimize bilateral cooperation", according to a tweet by Serbia's foreign affairs ministry.

Ugandan students studying applied sciences were also invited to apply for scholarships under the 'World in Serbia' scheme.

Uganda will also take over the chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement in 2023.

NAM is a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. 

Uganda has had a relationship with Serbia since 1963 and collaborations have been in different sectors, including sports, trade, education, agriculture among others.

The vaccines from Serbia will further strengthen the ongoing vaccination campaign in which over 2.3 million people have been vaccinated.

President Museveni has said post-secondary institutions of learning will re-open on November 1 while the rest of the learning institutions will resume in January 2022 if the above targets are met.

Uganda has so far acquired over 5.7 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines.

In his September 22 address, the President said the country was set to receive over 11.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of November.

Uganda's strategy is to vaccinate 22 million people, translating to 49.8% of the population.

The first phase will cover people with comorbidities that are 18 years and above, elderly aged 50 and above, health workers, teachers, and security personnel. In the second phase, anyone 18 years and above will be immunized and, in the third phase, children below 18 will be immunized.

To re-open businesses like bars and entertainment events, the president said that 4.8 million people in the priority population will have to be vaccinated. The president directed all RDCs, CAOs and DHOs to carry out intensive mobilization for all eligible priority groups to go for vaccination.