Besigye: A lockdown is no longer a solution to Uganda's Covid-19 problem
Opposition strongman Dr. Kizza Besigye has said that though desirable, a lockdown is no longer a solution to Uganda's Covid-19 problem.
The country has experienced a spike in Covid-19 positive cases with the highest single-day tally coming in on Saturday when the Ministry of Health announced 318 cases.
As such, there have been calls to lockdown the country again in a way to contain the spread of the virus.
Speaking to NBS Television's Morning Breeze on Monday however, Dr. Besigye said that this is no longer possible for the country because of the mismanagement.
Besigye said that Ugandans should rather boost their immunity and follow all the Ministry of Health Standard Operating Procedures.
"A lockdown is desirable, but no longer available to us. We are now on our own. I have been telling people to work on their immunity. This is the best option right now."
"The public should not neglect the use of masks. For the mask to be useful, everybody must put them on correctly, covering the nose and mouth. Hygiene is also a necessity," Besigye said.
Besigye said that the country has been terribly governed and ordinary people should have their own survival plan rather than depending on the government.
He said," We are stuck with 'hyenas' keeping our food. We have no money. Even salaries that are being paid are borrowed money. We are a country in a deep crisis."
While addressing the press on Monday at the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology, Minister Judith Nabakooba said that its not in government's best interest to announce another lockdown, but added that they might be forced to lockdown again, if people don't follow the necessary SOPs.
President Yoweri Museveni is expected to address the country on the Coronavirus situation this week, amidst calls for another lockdown as cases continue to surge.
This surge, according to Besigye is due to how the government responded to the pandemic.
Besigye said, "We made a good decision to lockdown early. Regrettably, everybody was locked except trucks that are the best mode of dissemination. This was a fundamental failure."
