Already 828 suspected contacts have been placed under home quarantine as opposed to being in the designated institutional isolation centre at Gulu School of Health Sciences located in East Division of Gulu City.
There are over 35 health staff deployed at treatment unit and institutional quarantine centre at Gulu College of Health Sciences. The health workers say some patients have been dodging or skipping COVID-19 treatment schedules while others some escape from the center before clinical decisions are made to discharge them.
Amuru is listed as one of the COVID-19 hotspots in the country due to its proximity to the Uganda – South Sudan border. Up to 125 positive cases of COVID-19 have been intercepted in Elegu Town Council in Amuru district since March 2020.
According to Atiak Sub County Chairperson Wilfred Odiya Baguma, the area has been highly infiltrated by people from mainly South Sudan, which currently has nearly 1,900 cases of Coronavirus Disease.
Records by the District Health Department indicate that there have been 33 confirmed community cases of COVID-19 in Amuru. The district has also intercepted up to 233 long-distance cargo truck drivers who were mainly from Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda on transit to South Sudan through Elegu border post.
Elegu border is responsible for between 80-90 per cent goods and services that enter South Sudan though Nimule. According to the Trade Ministry, from 2016 up to 2018, the border post has been responsible for over USD 1.2 billion in revenue to Uganda. But this time around, it has seen lengthy queues, holding trucks stationed for days as drivers undergo COVID-19 testing.
One commercial sex worker told URN that some of the truck drivers have families in Elegu and because of the restriction imposed on them, they are only able to meet their sexual partners in trucks at night.
Michael Lakony, the Amuru LCV Chairperson told URN that the eight contacts have been added to six other suspected patients who were repatriated on April 17th from South Sudan to undergo the 14 days’ mandatory institutional quarantine at the school.
Dr. Patrick Odong Olwedo, the Amuru District Health Officer told URN in an interview that a team from Gulu Regional Referral Hospital transferred the patient from Elegu to Kampala for subsequent repatriation to Kenya.
Seven of the suspects were being sneaked into Uganda from South Sudan by truck drivers under the pretext of being co-drivers and conductors while the four others were attempting to smuggle illicit drugs into South Sudan.
Court heard that the officers on 2nd April at Elegu Town Council in Amuru District, intentionally inflicted severe pain or suffering on 38 victims purportedly to punish them for disobeying a curfew. However, they all pleaded not guilty.
The latest incident involved 16 security personnel; 10 police officers and six UPDF soldiers who tortured over 38 civilians in Elegu Town Council, Uganda-South Sudan border while enforcing the 14 days’ curfew.
Tens of thousands of pangolins are poached and killed for their scales for use in traditional Chinese medicine. It is believed their meat is a delicacy among some ultra-wealthy in the Asian continent.
Aswa River Region Police Spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema disclosed that the victim’s mother revealed that the alleged kidnappers called and demanded 400,000 shillings to be sent to the victim’s contact before he is released.
Florence Nambalilwa, Kyagulanyi’s grandmother, a resident of Lorikwo West village in Elegu Town Council, says the deceased disappeared on December 29th, 2019 only to be found dead on January 3rd, 2020. Kyagulanyi met his death days after visiting his grandmother for Christmas from Kayunga district.
More than 10 cases of suicide have been recorded between December 2019 and early January 2020, according to records by the area Police. The latest incident involved Charles Amone, 45, a resident of Barlajwa village, Luna Parish in Pader Town Council who died on Monday after taking poison.
The floodwaters first hit the area two days ago according to reports from eyewitnesses. But the water volume, however, increased on Tuesday due to the on-going heavy rains being experienced in Acholi Sub-region.
