Lagos, Nigeria | AFP | African countries led by Nigeria and South Africa have ramped up action against the coronavirus after the continent recorded its first fatality. Nigeria said Thursday it would shut schools and limit religious meetings in its economic hub Lagos and capital Abuja, while South Africa, the continent’s …
Read More »Cinemas in Kampala close
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Century Cinemax in Acacia Mall and Ham Cinemax Makerere have suspended operations following President Museveni’s ban on all public gatherings. Although it had scheduled movies to show on Thursday, Century Cinemax cancelled all movies. Management announced a closure at 3:00 pm on their social media …
Read More »Guinea to vote on new constitution amid coronavirus fears
Conakry, Guinea | AFP | Guineans are set to vote Sunday on whether to adopt a new constitution, against a backdrop of mass protests against the move, coronavirus and possible internet cuts. After being delayed last month, the referendum also caps months of tension, occasional violence, and arrests, as critics see …
Read More »Uganda prisons suspends visits to inmates amid virus tensions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Uganda Prisons has halted routine visits to inmates in its facilities as part of the preventive measures against coronavirus. Margret Orik, the Northern Region Prisons Commander disclosed this to URN in an interview on Thursday. She explained that the top Uganda Prison Services leadership has …
Read More »Quarantined COVID-19 travelers protest against Uganda restrictions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A number of travelers who entered Uganda through Entebbe are dissatisfied with services and costs charged at one of the Health Ministry recommended self-quarantine hotels. The travelers being held at Entebbe Central Inn say apart from the costs, they were not fully informed about what …
Read More »Chief Justice Katureebe suspends court sessions
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Chief Justice, Bart Katureebe has suspended all court hearings and appearances for 32 days as part of the preventive measures against the coronavirus. In his statement issued on Thursday afternoon, Justice Katureebe says the directive takes effect March 20th, 2020 and affects cases at …
Read More »US fast-tracking antimalarials to treat coronavirus: Trump
Washington, United States | AFP | The US is fast-tracking antimalarial drugs for use as a treatment against the new coronavirus, President Donald Trump said Thursday, following encouraging early results in France and China. Chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine have not been given a formal green light in the US to fight the …
Read More »UPDF to form anti-coronavirus task team
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Chief of Defence Forces –CDF, Gen David Muhoozi, has directed his deputy Lt Gen Wilson Mbadi to form an anti-coronavirus task enforcement team that will work alongside the ministry of health to encounter the global pandemic. Gen Muhoozi issued the directive to Lt Gen …
Read More »Dating in the time of coronavirus: chat online, meet much later
New York, United States | AFP | With governments clamping down on social interactions to contain the coronavirus spread, dating sites are discouraging dates and asking users to get to know each other virtually instead. “We don’t know who needs to hear this, but now is NOT the time to go …
Read More »IGP Ochola summons directors, commanders over coronavirus directives
Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A day after President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni issued 14 directives on preventing coronavirus (COVID-19), the Inspector General of Police – IGP Martin Ochola, has summoned directors and commanders to deliberate on the strategy for implementation. Museveni on Wednesday issued guidelines to cub the pandemic …
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