Security personnel told URN on Wednesday that the couple, a Ugandan national and her Nigerian Husband who all reside in Sweden, reportedly landed in Kenya and later proceeded to Uganda by road on March 5th.
Kitgum District Officials are hunting for a couple who allegedly dodged
self-quarantine after returning from Sweden, Sweden is one of the European
countries currently battling the new Coronavirus pandemic.
Latest statistics indicate Sweden has registered a total of 1,196 cases with 8
deaths as of March 18th.
Security personnel told URN on Wednesday that the couple, a Ugandan national
and her Nigerian Husband who all reside in Sweden, reportedly landed in Kenya
and later proceeded to Uganda by road on March 5th.
It’s reported that they entered the country through Malaba border point before
travelling to Langa Langa cell in Kitgum Municipality in Northern Uganda. It’s
however still unclear whether the couple used private or public means while
travelling from the Kenyan Border point of Malaba to Kitgum Municipality.
Kitgum Resident District Commissioner William Komakech says they were notified
of the couple’s arrival on March 10th, five days after they had allegedly
settled in the district.
The Health Ministry early this month directed a mandatory 14 days’
self-quarantine for all persons returning from COVID-19 burdened countries to
prevent the spread of the disease.
He, however, notes that the couple hasn’t been found to-date raising fear on
whether they underwent self-quarantine and haven’t mingled with the public.
“We made attempts to find out whether the couple were under self-quarantine at
their home in Langa Langa cell but one of the relatives told us they had travelled
back to Kampala. We don’t know whether these people are being honest because it’s
now almost two weeks since the couple came in the country” He says.
Komakech notes that the couple could have used Kenya as their entry point to
escape undergoing mandatory two weeks quarantine at Entebbe Central Inn.
He says the District health team has now placed an elderly woman from Langa
Langa Cell in Central Division who came into contact with the couple under
close monitoring.
“We have decided to place an elderly woman who was in contact with these couple
under monitoring by our health team. We are calling out these couple to come
out voluntarily and undergo medical examination so that they don’t put lives of
others at risk,” Komakech said.
On Wednesday, the district leaders formed a Corona Virus Task Force that will
help in creating awareness, coordinating and monitoring preventive measures and
strengthening the district’s preparedness to combat Corona Virus disease.
The team comprises of the Resident District Commissioner, Chief Administrative
Officer, District Chairperson, District Health Officer and stakeholders among
others.
Although Uganda hasn’t yet confirmed any case of the highly infectious diseases,
President Museveni on Thursday ordered for closure of schools and ban on
gatherings in churches, funerals, weddings and conferences among others.
Ugandans travelling to countries with high confirmed cases of coronavirus
diseases have also been banned for a month while those returning will be
subjected to self-quarantine at their cost.
At least 7,529 people globally have been killed by the disease and
more than 180,000 infections have been confirmed in at least 150 countries and
territories, according to the World Health Organization.
