Truck drivers transporting goods across borders are to be tested for COVID-19 at the various border points before they enter into Uganda.
This has been revealed by President Museveni while flagging off rapid crisis response vehicles donated to the national COVID-19 response task force at Kololo ceremonial grounds.
On Thursday the Ministry of Health confirmed 11 new cases out of 1020 samples tested who all happen to be truck drivers from neighboring countries.
Out of the 11 cases, 6 are Tanzania truck drivers who arrived into the country via Mutukula and 5 Kenyan truck drivers 3 of which entered through Malaba while the 2 entered through Busia.
This brings the total of confirmed cases in the country to 74 and the total recoveries at 46 and 28 active cases.
Museveni revealed that the Ministry of Health in currently holding a meeting with other Health Ministers in the region with the aim of coming up with a lasting solution to the challenge of truck drivers who have become a matter of public concern as they pose a risk of spreading coronavirus to Uganda’s countryside.
Museveni said that one of the possible solutions being discussed is ensuring that the truck drivers are tested before entering the country and once they are cleared. they are then left to enter the country.
“We need to solve the problem of land borders: the truck are now the problem. There are three issues which are being studied. one issue is to test these people at the border before they come into the country and having them wait for their results,” Museveni said.
The President however opposed the idea of blocking the land border entries to cargo, noting that the country still needs cargo into and out of the country
“We have a challenge, we need the cargo, we need the goods to come in and also to go out, but at the same time we have to stop the spread of the virus,” Museveni said.
Museveni has promised to give another COVID-19 update on Tuesday next week
