The four are said to have entered the country through the porous border points of Lake Albert on May 30, 2020. They were sighted by residents who immediately alerted security and health officials who later picked them from Kijangi Landing Site in Tonya parish Buseruka sub-county.
Hoima Resident District Commissioner-RDC Samuel Kisembo told Uganda Radio Network on Wednesday that the Health Ministry decided to transfer some COVID-19 Patients to Hoima Hospital due to the limited space in Adjumani, where they had initially been admitted.
The district had budgeted for 602 million Shillings as road fund but only received 415 million Shillings from the central government. But before they could secure the balance, the government informed them that there will be no more road fund releases for the fourth quarter due to COVID-19 pandemic.
The company said in a letter to staff that the decision was in line with the government guidelines to control the spread of the COVID-19 Pandemic. It, however, comes at a time when the government is easing restrictions that started in March.
The detective tested positive for COVID-19 on May 1, 2020, during the Rapid Assessment survey conducted by the health ministry across the country. In the aftermath, all the 104 police officers who were manning Masindi Central Police Station were replaced and quarantined at Masindi police barracks together with their family members.
Robert Ngabirano, the Head of Marine police in Hoima and Kikuube districts says that some fishermen have become unruly and openly defied the presidential directives on the control of COVID-19. He says that the impounded boats will only be returned to the owners after the lockdown has been lifted.
Robinah Nabanja, the State Minister of health for General duties says the distribution will be done in phases starting in the border districts and then move to other parts of the country.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson says that police records indicate that 20 cases of violence against children have been recorded since the nationwide lockdown was announced.
The government announced plans to close more than 200 illegal landing sites on the shores of Lake Albert in the districts of Hoima, Kikuube and Buliisa. According to the government, the landing sites are facilitating the illegal entry and exit of Congolese Nationals into the country, many of whom have settled on the sites without any control.
The fishermen and their families were evicted on Thursday from Songagagi and Nana landing sites in Kigorobya and Buseraku sub counties respectively in Hoima district.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson told Uganda Radio Network this morning that the arrested fishermen are locked up at Kaiso police station pending transfer to Hoima Central Police station.
Hand washing containers were set up in various public places in Hoima Municipality. However, most residents have abandoned the practice of raising concerns from medical workers.
Pius Wakabi, the Bugahya county Member of parliament, says it is totally wrong for government to come up with a decision of closing the illegal landing sites during the lock down.
Godfrey Sserwanja, the Hoima District Education officer-DEO told Uganda Radio network that they approached the Rapid Assessment survey team to have the teachers tested since the teachers interact with many people more especially the children they teach saying it was crucial for the health ministry to engage teachers in the COVID-19 testing exercise.
The deceased have only been identified as Owonda 50 and Dickon 42 both fishermen attached to Nana landing site in Tonya parish Buseruka sub county Hoima district.
John Bamuturaki, a fisherman at Kabolwa landing site in Buliisa district, says closing the landing sites will negatively impact on their livelihoods, adding most of them have established permanent settlements on the landing sites and have nowhere to go.
In March this year, Hoima and Kikuube District Security Committees suspended fishing activities and boat operations on Lake Albert to prevent the spread of Corona virus.
Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom Health Minister Dr Florence Asiimwe says that most government health facilities in the region are not equipped with the necessary gear to protect themselves against such infections, despite working from the porous border with the Democratic Republic of Congo.
