Uganda’s Ebola outbreak: Govt suspends Kyankwanzi Cabinet retreat as cases spread

KAMPALA— The Ugandan government has suspended the planned retreat for leaders in Kyankwanzi that should have kicked off Monday as Ebola outbreak continues to hit Mubende, Kyegegwa, Kassanda, Kagadi and Bunyangabu districts.

Two cases reported in Kampala were from Mubende. The Cabinet and other senior government officials were expected to camp at Kyankwanzi for the retreat that President Museveni was expected to open.

While addressing the nation, the President said the retreat was suspended after the advice of the Ministry of Health against hosting a large population.

“We were going to have a Cabinet retreat, government retreat actually in Kyankwanzi, but the Ministry of Health people met and said no, don’t expose people. Bringing so many people together because we were going to have ministers and other people and it was going to be a big room.,” Museveni said.

Milly Babalanda, the Minister of Presidency, said a new date will be communicated at a later time. Government has already placed the districts of Mubende and Kassanda under lockdown, barring movement to and out of the districts.

Museveni said if not adequately controlled, Ebola may spread beyond Uganda which would pose a huge challenge to control. He, however, said the country has what it takes to contain the deadly virus.

“Countrymen and countrywomen, regarding the Ebola outbreak, our country has the capacity to control this epidemic. The government is doing everything possible to ensure your safety. As I indicated in my address, a confirmed case was admitted at Kiruddu Hospital from Mubende and died,” he said.

He said 24 contacts are under quarantine and said there is no confirmed case of Ebola in Kampala as of now.

Museveni has put Kampala City on high alert following the detection of two Ebola cases who escaped from Mubende.

Of the two patients, one of them, a male, died in Kiruddu Hospital last week. The other, the man’s wife, tested positive in Kitebi Health Centre IV in Kampala and has been isolated in Entebbe with her baby.

Ebola Virus Disease has already been confirmed in at least five districts, infecting 58 and killing 19, according to the statistics from the Health Ministry. Up to 20 people have also recovered from the disease.

According to the Health ministry, at least 42 contacts of the cases in Kampala have been listed and 10 quarantined.

The epidemic is coming at a time when the country is struggling to recover from the effects of Covid-19 on the economy, where the tourism sector was one of the most affected. Many tourists were reported to have cancelled their flights for fear of contracting the disease.

Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK