President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has agreed to extend lockdown for three more weeks in a bid to fight the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
The President accepted a request from Ministry of Health officials who told him they needed more three weeks to track down over 400 potential samples who came in contact with 53 patients that tested positive for the the virus.
The meeting sitting on Monday at State House Entebbe was attended by COVID-19 security taskforce heads General Wilson Mbadi, General Kyanda and Deputy IGP Muzeeyi Sabiiti, Minister of Health Dr. Ruth Aceng, Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine and senior cabinet Ministers led by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
The Health Minister Aceng told the meeting that it is wise to push the lockdown to enable her team to trace more contacts which came in contact with 53 cases.
Whereas the COVID-19 curve has flattened in the recent past in Uganda, on Easter, one more case tested positive bringing the total number to 54.
According to sources, Museveni agreed to extend the lockdown beginning Tuesday night for another three weeks as requested by health experts.
After the cabinet meeting, President Museveni again met the COVID-19 security taskforce for more briefing.
Don Wanyama, the Presidential spokesperson when asked said he was unaware of the decision taken by Cabinet on Monday.
Mr Wanyama had earlier indicated that the President will address the nation on Tuesday at midday to guide on the lockdown.
On Sunday Wanyama had asked the nation to disregard a fake tweet which suggested that President Museveni had pushed the lockdown to three more weeks.
A source added that cabinet also agreed to review some of the measures constituted depending on the response and results in those 3 weeks.
Uganda has so far discharged three Coronavirus patients who fully recovered and more 15 who also tested negative will soon be released from the hospital.
