Ugandan Ministers Undergo Compulsory COVID-19 Test

All Ugandan ministers have on Friday started undergoing compulsory COVID-19 test. This comes after Prime Minister Dr Ruhakana Rugunda announced that he will undergo self-isolation after his contacts tested positive for the novel coronavirus. This prompted government to conduct a mandatory test for all Ministers.

The sample tests are being conducted at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM). By press time, among those who had already been tested include; Minister for Gender Frank Tumwebaze. Tumwebaze confirmed through a tweet saying that, “Yes testing is going on. I have done mine.”

According to sources, one of the Rugunda’s contacts who tested positive is one of his drivers. If Rugunda is found positive, then all ministers and MPs and other contacts could be quarantined considering that the Premier on Wednesday attended a parliamentary sitting.

Other ministers who have conducted this COVID-19 test include State minister for ICT Peter Ogwang. Ogwang, also Usuk County MP last week went to Mulago Hospital for a voluntary test and later tweeted saying, “I have just had a voluntary COVID-19 test at Mulago Hospital. The results will be out in 48hrs which I will proudly display no matter the outcomes. The best way to fight this virus, is by being open, positive and STOP the stigma. I encourage all leaders to take up this test.”

A day later, Ogwang displayed his COVID-19 test results which showed negative.

Sources have intimated to Kampala Post that President Yoweri Museveni is considering holding cabinet meetings through virtual space for fear of COVID-19 transmission. On Thursday, Museveni presented the State of the Nation Address to parliament via zoom for the first time.