President Yoweri Museveni has revealed that he’s a “COVID-19 suspect” after experiencing cold symptoms on Wednesday morning. In response, he promptly requested COVID tests to ascertain his health status.
During his State of the Nation Address, President Museveni informed the attending Members of Parliament that one of the three COVID-19 tests he underwent returned positive.
“As a result, I am currently considered a suspect of corona. That’s why you saw me arriving separately in different cars from Mama (First Lady Janet Museveni),” stated President Museveni.
Throughout the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, Uganda implemented some of the most stringent containment measures in Africa. These measures included curfews, closures of businesses and schools, border shutdowns, and various other steps.
After two years of enduring both complete and partial lockdowns, the country fully reopened in February 2022.
Despite the reopening, President Museveni, who is fully vaccinated against COVID-19, has consistently been seen in public wearing a mask. He has also maintained social distancing during his official duties and often sits alone in a tent on the lawn of his office when meeting visitors. It is worth noting that last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 no longer poses a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC).
The WHO cited the declining trend in COVID-19 deaths, reduced hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions related to COVID-19, and the high levels of population immunity to SARS-CoV-2 as the reasons behind this decision.