President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has cautioned the general public to always wear masks whenever they are out of their homes. The president said wearing mask will help combat the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and its infection to other people.
“People seem not to understand the value of the masks; these are not a decoration. We don’t want you to be seen with the mask hanging around your neck. Put the mask over your mouth and nose all the time as long as you are in public. Even when you are speaking, leave the mask on because if you remove and speak, you are infecting the air and also the hands you are fidgeting with while removing the mask can bring the infection,” said Museveni.
He was speaking shortly after making an abrupt stop-over at Kitubulu on the shores of Lake Victoria, near Ssese gateway beach, to observe the increasing water levels on his way to State House Entebbe for state duties.
“People seem not to understand the value of the masks; these are not a decoration. We don’t want you to be seen with the mask hanging around your neck. Put the mask over your mouth and nose all the time as long as you are in public. Even when you are speaking, leave the mask on because if you remove and speak, you are infecting the air and also the hands you are fidgeting with while removing the mask can bring the infection,” said Museveni.
He was speaking shortly after making an abrupt stop-over at Kitubulu on the shores of Lake Victoria, near Ssese gateway beach, to observe the increasing water levels on his way to State House Entebbe for state duties.
Uganda currently has 101 confirmed cases, 23 active cases with 55 recoveries and no deaths. Out of the confirmed cases, 41 are from truck drivers - 37 foreign and 4 Ugandans. 23 of the foreign truck drivers have returned to their respective countries.
On the issue of the increasing L.Victoria waters, Museveni noted that the water was just 0.1 short of the 1964 record levels of 13.41 metres. He said despite this, the country will be able to protect its dams because they have built two exit gates for the water to go through.
“In 1964, the water destroyed a lot of things but this time we shall be able to protect the dams because we have expanded our exit gates at Jinja. In 1964 there was only one exit gate at Jinja which could only release 1300 cubic metres of water per second, but now we have two gates, there is one which goes through Kiira at the Jinja side and the one which goes through the Nalubaale in the Buganda side, if you combine both of them, they can allow 3000 cubic metres of water per second to go through,” he added.
For the people near the shores and the river banks, Museveni advised them to move away from the waterway before the increasing water levels destroy them and their property because the rains were not about to stop. He reiterated that these people are the ones who invaded where the water flows and should move away before they are swallowed up.
Museveni re-emphasized the need for people to adhere to government rules of building 500 metres away from the shore or else they will bring disaster to themselves. To the politicians who are still thinking of giving out food to the people in this period, Museveni advised them to refrain from it, saying this would prevent crowds that bring a risk of spreading the infection.
“When I stopped at Kitubulu, immediately a small rally formed and I had to run away. When people see a political leader especially the one they like, they will gather and that it is how the virus spreads,” he said.
On the issue of the increasing L.Victoria waters, Museveni noted that the water was just 0.1 short of the 1964 record levels of 13.41 metres. He said despite this, the country will be able to protect its dams because they have built two exit gates for the water to go through.
“In 1964, the water destroyed a lot of things but this time we shall be able to protect the dams because we have expanded our exit gates at Jinja. In 1964 there was only one exit gate at Jinja which could only release 1300 cubic metres of water per second, but now we have two gates, there is one which goes through Kiira at the Jinja side and the one which goes through the Nalubaale in the Buganda side, if you combine both of them, they can allow 3000 cubic metres of water per second to go through,” he added.
For the people near the shores and the river banks, Museveni advised them to move away from the waterway before the increasing water levels destroy them and their property because the rains were not about to stop. He reiterated that these people are the ones who invaded where the water flows and should move away before they are swallowed up.
Museveni re-emphasized the need for people to adhere to government rules of building 500 metres away from the shore or else they will bring disaster to themselves. To the politicians who are still thinking of giving out food to the people in this period, Museveni advised them to refrain from it, saying this would prevent crowds that bring a risk of spreading the infection.
“When I stopped at Kitubulu, immediately a small rally formed and I had to run away. When people see a political leader especially the one they like, they will gather and that it is how the virus spreads,” he said.