Kicumbi Laston, a trucker from Zambia told URN that they loaded goods from South Africa destined for Congo through Mpondwe but they were told by clearing agents upon arrival at the border that they could not proceed with their journey because of insecurity in Eastern DRC.
Last month of September 2021, out of the 2,594 samples tested by the health team 92 people, mostly travelers and long-distance truck drivers turned positive compared to 35 out of 2,478 samples tested in August.
Under this system, a COVID-19 digital certificate issued by one country will be mutually recognized by the other countries, thus eliminating the need for multiple testing.
The Uganda Railway Corporation (URC) is seeking 93.5 Billion shillings to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the sub sector and also repair and maintain its assets.
Lubowa last made a trip from Kenya through Uganda to Democratic Republic of Congo two weeks back. At the Malaba border, he had papers that showed he had tested negative to the virus. However, clearing agents and customs officials refused to touch his papers.
Every day, at least 100 trucks transport sand from Kapeeka, Semuto, Kikamulo and Kito sub-counties in Nakaseke district. The sand is sold to construction sites in Kampala city and Wakiso district. But the task force has banned the activities saying that it is impossible to implement protect the workers and communities against the pandemic.
Uganda’s members in the East African Legislative Assembly [EALA] who have been on a fact finding mission at the different border entries, said in some places like Busia, the queue goes for as long as 30 kilometers into Kenya. George Odongo, the chairperson of Uganda’s chapter said it’s important to urgently handle the situation at the border before it spirals out of control.
The Minister of Health Jane Ruth Aceng has called on well-wishers to donate protective full-length gowns for medical workers use during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
In a circular this morning, the tax body said trucks carrying cargo shall be permitted to only park inside boarded warehouses or internal container depots. This, URA wrote, does not include roads along the Container Depots and warehouses.
In a videoconference summit on Tuesday morning, President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Paul Kagame of Rwanda, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya indicated the need to address the truck drivers, now seen as the weak link to spread the virus. President John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi did not participate in the summit. It is still not clear why.
The Foreign Affairs State Minister, Henry Okello Oryem, says the incidents cited in the note are isolated cases and not the official position of Uganda.
Martine Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District LC 5 Chairperson also the coordinator District Task Force, says the interception of trucker, brings to three number of positive cases being treated at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital.
This is the highest number of infections to be recorded by the country in one day, since the confirmation of the virus in March. Uganda’s caseload now stands at 114 infections, a sizeable number from Kenyan and Tanzanian truck drivers who are entering the country through Malaba, Busia and Mutukula border posts.
On a daily basis, between 300 to 1,000 cargo trucks are cleared by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) and the immigration department at Elegu border post, on a continuing journey to South Sudan. However, the Minister observed that there is laxity among the border community who need adequate and timely knowledge about the threats posed by the global killer pandemic.
The 13 cases were identified from the 2,421 samples collected from truck drivers on May 8th, 2020. According to the break down, 7 of the new cases are Kenyans, 4 Ugandans and 2 Tanzanian nationals.
The highest number of cases was recorded last week when 11 truck drivers tested positive in just one day. Yesterday, another four truck drivers from Tanzania, tested positive pushing Uganda’s COVID-19 Caseload to 79.
Swaib Toko, the Resident District Commissioner Packwach, says that the truck drivers and eight passengers they were travelling with were intercepted on Thursday night at the URA checkpoint.
Bernard Ssengendo, one of the truck drivers says that although they are allowed to make movements during daytime and return to the Ugandan side of the border for meals, they are ordered to lock themselves inside their trucks throughout the night by Rwanda National Police.
