In 2015, Bill Gates warned that the greatest global threat was not war but a highly infectious virus. Five years later, COVID-19 proved him right.
Economies crumbled, health systems faltered, and life as we knew it changed. Uganda, like the rest of the world, was caught off guard when the virus arrived in March 2020.
On March 18, 2020, President Museveni ordered all schools to close within two days, sending 15 million students home. Religious gatherings, public events, and mass meetings were banned.
Streets that once bustled with life fell silent—not just in Kampala but in cities across the world. On March 21, Uganda recorded its first case: a 36-year-old traveler from Dubai.
Within days, the country sealed its borders, suspended public transport, and imposed a curfew. The measures were strict, but necessary, as countries grappled with whether to fully lock down or adopt a more lenient approach, as Sweden did.
Five years later, what has Uganda truly learned? The pandemic exposed weaknesses not just in the health sector but in governance.
Dr. Henry Kyobe, the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Incident Commander, argues that Uganda is now better prepared.
"We have established additional oxygen plants and strengthened our health systems compared to 2020," he says.
Indeed, regional hospitals now have more operational oxygen plants, offering a more resilient emergency response.
But questions remain, especially about the handling of COVID-19 relief funds. Public skepticism over mismanagement lingers, yet Dr. Kyobe dismisses concerns.
"There was no trust lost in the first place," he insists. This claim clashes with the outrage that followed corruption scandals surrounding pandemic funds.
COVID-19 changed how Uganda—and the world—functions. Remote work, digital learning, and telemedicine are now essential.
Yet, despite strides in healthcare, Uganda's military budget still far outweighs its health investments. Gates may have been right about pandemics, but Uganda’s spending priorities remain unchanged.
So, if another pandemic emerges, will Uganda be ready? Or will it once again wait for hindsight to offer a warning?