UGX 700 million spent on COVID-19 tests as Museveni takes oath

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT |   The Health Ministry has spent over seven hundred million shillings to test guests for COVID-19 as President Museveni takes oath  for a sixth term in office.

URN has learnt that the over 4000  guests at the ceremony were subjected to tests as per the COVID-19 standard operating procedures. Each PCR test  costs close to one hundred and eighty thousand shillings or fifty dollars.

Those tested include, services providers, journalists and security personnel among others attending the ceremony at the Kololo Independence ceremonial grounds today Wednesday. Only those that have tested negative of the virus will be allowed at the venue.

The Minister for Health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng says the guests who have not received their results will do so at the entrance of the venue.

The PCR tests were carried out two days prior to the event.  Aceng says extra precaution has been taken  to ensure that ceremony does not turn into a mass spreader COVID-19.

Guests will not be allowed to handshake or hug with anyone. Aceng says  on arrival, each guest will sanitize their hands before being led to their designated seats by ushers.

The only movement to be allowed will be to places of convenience or hand  sanitization points. Delegates will be seated two meters apart and everyone will be expected to wear a facial mask at all times.

To further avoid cross infection at the venue, Aceng revealed that all service providers have undergone a 14 day quarantine after testing.

” Service providers have been under quarantine for the last 14 days including testing to ensure no cross infection occurs with our invited guest or even at the venue,” Dr Aceng said. The  event will start at 8:00 am with the arrival of guests and end at 2:30 pm.

Seven heads of states from Guinea, Zimbabwe,Somalia, South Sudan, Burundi, Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to attend the ceremony in persons. 

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URN