As Uganda battles Covid19 pandemic, an Italian company Leornado, has donated two portable respirators to Uganda People’s Defence Forces –UPDF.
Chief of Defence Forces –CDF Gen David Muhoozi, received the respirators on Monday afternoon at the Defence ministry headquarters in Mbuya, Nakawa Division, in Kampala.
Lt Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy UPDF Army and Defence Spokesperson, in a statement explained that the two respirators will be utilized at Bombo Military Hospital and State House Military Hospital. Akiiki said CDF applauded Italian Ambassador, Massimiliano Mazzarati, for having chosen to support UPDF in the fight against COVID-19.
Amb Massimiliano acknowledged the ‘selfless’ service the UPDF soldiers have offered within Uganda and the peacekeeping efforts within the region especially AMISOM. Uganda has over 6000 soldiers in Somalia.
“We thought of something more concrete to cement our friendship with the UPDF and the best way to express this appreciation is in terms of donating these two respirators especially during these times of COVID-19,” Akiiki quoted Massimiliano.
Uganda has so far registered 11,557 Covid19 positive cases of which 7,351 have already recovered while 101 have succumbed to the contagious disease.
The Mbuya event, according to Akiiki, was graced by other senior UDPF honchos among others the Joint Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Joseph Musanyufu, the Commander Air Force, Lt. Gen. Charles Lutaaya, Commanding Officer UPDF Marines, Brig. Gen. Michael Nyarwa and the Defence Spokesperson, Brig. Flavia Byekwaso.