President Yoweri Museveni has directed the Ministry of Health and Kampala Capital City Authority leadership to closely monitor the spread of of the deadly Ebola after two cases have been reported in Kampala.
The president said on his official twitter page that he had ordered “maximum mobilization” in case Ebola cases erupted in the country’s capital.
“For Kampala city, while the two cases that tested positive came from Mubende district and are regarded as Mubende cases, because of the presence of contacts of these two cases and the risks of infection. I have directed a full mobilisation of Kampala city into a response mode,” Museveni said on his official twitter handle .
Earlier in his address to the nation President Museveni assures Ugandans that there wont be any lock downs following the outbreak of Ebola in Mubende and Kasanda districts .
“It is not necessary to have lockdowns. We just need to take care of a few things. This time we are fighting differently. It is not necessary to have lockdowns close schools , stopping people from going to church, markets ,travelling etc,” Museveni said.
“Us who are used of fighting wars, when we heard the characteristics of Ebola, we decided to fight differently. It’s not necessary to have lockdowns, close markets and schools or stop worshippers from congregating etc,” the President stated adding that ,”Ebola highly spreads through direct body contact and fluids. Other means are if you have sex, saliva and blood transfusion. The good news about Ebola is that it is not as infectious as Covid-19 which is mainly air-borne. “
According to Museveni, government has capacity to deal with the virus, noting that a treatment unit for Ebola at Mubende Referral Hospital currently has a 51-bed capacity for confirmed cases and eight bed capacity for suspects whereas a 31-bed capacity treatment unit has been set up as Madudu Health Center III.
However, Museveni has since restricted movement of people and goods in the two districts and also also ordered for a 7pm to 6 am curfew in the area causing panic that similar measures might be instituted in Kampala.
