this group brings the total number of returnees to 1,693, ever since June 22nd, 2020 when the country started receiving stranded Ugandans and legal residents.
They are among the 995 Ugandans and legal residents who had been stranded overseas after the closure of borders and airports, to stop the spread of coronavirus disease. They arrived in the country between June 22 and July 11 from southern Africa, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and India among others.
Those who returned today include members of the Melody and Sozo Choirs of Watoto Church who were stranded in the United States of America where they had gone for a series of activities. The teams which were stranded in Texas, Virginia and Alabama over the last four months were flagged off from the US on Friday by Ugandan officials led by Ambassador Mull Katende.
On Friday afternoon, five of the returnees packed up their luggage, left the hotel rooms and gathered at the hotel reception to demand discharge documents from the Ministry of Health. But the Hotel management blocked their exit and demanded payments for the extra days of quarantine.
In a statement released on Thursday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated that it expects 1,125 Ugandans to return between July 18 and 24 from various regions and countries including Cote d'Ivoire where Kenzo got stuck when the borders were closed as a way of stopping the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
The scientific protests come days after Bwowe wrote a letter dated July, 8, 2020 to Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng that returnees will have no contractual obligation with the quarantine centres at the end of the 14th day.
Allan Ssempebwa Kyobe, the UNRA Spokesperson says that the works will be completed at the end of August.
“The landing sites were low lying that is why they got submerged and now we need to pile more stones and other materials to raise the docking areas,” Ssempebwa says.
In a letter dated July 8, 2020, Bwowe informed Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng that they will have no contractual obligation with the Quarantine Centre’s at the end of the 14th day, yet many of them only budgeted for the days that they were told before boarding planes to Uganda.
Dr Andrew Obuku left Cleveland, Ohio on March 21. At 7 a.m. the next day, he was in Addis Ababa, waiting for a connecting flight which was due at 10 a.m. However, Ethiopian Airlines rescheduled the flight to 23; 45 p.m. After more than 12 hours of waiting, the same flight was cancelled.
Hannington Kasirye, a Ugandan and a community leader in Pretoria told Uganda Radio Network that $913 US Dollars, up from the normal average rate of $ 471 US Dollars for a one-way ticket from Johanesbug to Entebbe, is fair.
He says it is the lowest cost one can charter a flight under the circumstances, noting that certain airlines had made quotations in the range of $1,200 to 1,800 US Dollars, about shillings 4.5million to 6.7 million per passenger.
Nine Committee members led by the chairperson, Jesca Ababiku visited specifically Bunonko-Misoli village in Kigungu and Bugonga landing site in Bugonga parish to ascertain how many people have been affected by Lake Victoria floods, whether or not the affected people are within the 200-meter protected zone, the extent of damage and possible solutions.
Up to 174,000 people face eviction from the shores, mainly around the areas of Bugonga, Kigungu, and Lugonjo-Nakiwogo, which have been flooded as the lake reclaims its shoreline that was encroached on for several years.
In April President Museveni ordered individuals who have settled or working in protected zones such as lakes, wetlands, forest reserves across the country should be evicted.
Bussi Sub County Chief Richard Mabira says that 120 people from 37 households have been affected. He adds that although no deaths were recorded, three people sustained serious injuries from the fire which also razed ten shops and two restaurants.
Nalongo Rose Nakyanzi, who was cooking when the incident happened and sustained injuries on the head and right hand, was excited to receive relief. She told URN that after the incident she was rushed to Ralfa Hospital, a private health facility on the island where she spent a week.
According to Entebbe Municipal Mayor, Vincent DePaul Kayanja there are 65,000 vulnerable people in the municipality include casual workers, taxi drivers, Boda Boda riders, sex workers and the elderly, among others.
Dr Peter G. Mwesige, the Executive Director African Centre for Media Excellence, noted that journalism without fear or favour “in times of Covid-19 means not giving a free pass to government officials, health workers and others at the frontline. The public should be given information to celebrate the ‘heroes’ without sweeping their mistakes under the carpet."
