43 Police Officers Recover From COVID-19, Four Still Hospitalized

Of the 48 police officers diagnosed with Covid-19 in exactly four months, 43 have already recovered while four are still undergoing treatment. One unfortunately succumbed.

Dr Moses Byaruhanga, the director police medical services, told Uganda Radio Network that the officer who succumbed was in Masaka and that 40 percent of the cases in police are in Kampala. 

Dr Byaruhanga who is at the rank of Assistant Inspector General of Police, said most of the Covid19 positive cases in the police have been recorded from August 10 to September 30. 

“Since the pandemic started, as police we registered the first positive case on May 30 at Masindi police station and two days later we got another from Mutukula"  Dr Byaruhanga said.  "When transmissions increased in August particularly in Kampala, our numbers also increased. And I can say about 40 percent of the cases we have registered are in Kampala.”

Among those that have recovered from Covid-19 include police’s Chief Political Commissar AIGP Asan Kasingye.  URN has established that among the four who are still receiving treatment is the Officer Incharge – OC Kanoni Police Station in Gomba district, ASP Hamson Birungi and OC traffic AIP Malicerino Okongo. The duo tested positive a few days ago.

Police say the rising number of cases of policemen and women getting Covid-19 is because of the big numbers of people they handle every day  especially in Kampala. Dr Byaruhanga said a police stations in Kampala handles more than 600 people every day and this exposes the officer to the virus.

“We have disinfected most of the stations in Kampala. The biggest problem is in Kampala. We are putting major focus in Kampala. We continue to send messages about Covid19 to our units. We continue to support our officers who fall sick,” Dr Byaruhanga adds.

Police, revealed Dr Byaruhanga, has already bought a number of body bags in preparation for the worst that may come since Covid19 are skyrocketing. The ministry of health is exalted by police leadership for the treatment, guidance and response they give whenever a police officer tests positive for Covid-19.