The wrathful hand of Corona Virus Disease –Covid19 has claimed Uganda’s Second Deputy Prime Minister and two Members of Parliament in just three days.
Aged 85, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Kirunda Kivejinja, was pronounced dead on Saturday evening by President Yoweri Museveni while he was campaigning to extending his 35 years’ rule in Bunyoro subregion.
Museveni told the electorate to be very careful with Covid19 because it had just claimed Kivejinja’s life a day after Kyotera District Woman MP Robina Ssentongo had been killed by the same highly contagious disease.
Ssentongo’s death came a day after former legislator and aspirant for Masaka District Woman MP, Freda Kasse Mubanda, was also pronounced dead as a result of Covi19. At least four MPs, Local Council V Chairperson, businessmen and women including health workers have succumbed to Covid19.
Uganda has lost in total 230 people while hundreds of thousands are battling Covid19 in various hospitals. The country has registered close to 30000 positive cases although more than 10000 have recovered.
Covid19 cases have skyrocketed in Uganda in the last three months and this is attributed to complacency of citizens who have refused to adhere to guidelines such as wearing face masks, washing hands, avoiding crowds and social distancing.
Because of the ongoing political campaigns in preparation for 2021 general elections, crowds attending rallies of incumbent president, Yoweri Museveni and his rivals, Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi and Patrick Oboi Amuriat.
Ministry of health’s efforts to sensitise locals on dangers of Covid19 seem to be no longer having any impact. However, the government has already announced that hospitals are filled beyond capacity by Covid19 patients.