COVID-19: Over 150 Inmates Test Positive as Uganda Registers 318 Cases in a single Day

Over 150 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 as Uganda registers a record 318 cases in a single day.

While addressing the press on Saturday evening, Health minister Ruth Aceng said that 150 people have so far tested positive in Amuru prison which houses 405 inmates.

Minister Aceng said that they have recorded 318 new cases- the highest number they have received since the outbreak in March. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 2,166.

“The Ministry of Health undertook further investigations in Amuru Prisons. Out of the 205 inmates, 153 inmates tested positive. Out of the 28 prison staff, 1 tested positive for COVID-19. The Ministry working with Uganda Prisons Services has since relocated all the confirmed 152 inmates to Gulu Central Prison which is acting as an auxiliary isolation facility. The prison staff is admitted in Gulu Regional Referral Hospital,” Aceng said.

Several institutions including; Malaysia Furnishing, Royal Pharma, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, IGG,KCCA, Toyota, NRM Secretariat, Eagle Holdings, Megha Industries, media houses (New Vision, NBS,NTV,BBS) and other private hospitals are among the new institutions that have reported new COVID-19 cases.

Minister Aceng blamed the influx of COVID-19 cases to complacency by Ugandans in observing special operating procedures such as social distancing and hand washing.

“Ugandans forgot where we came from. Unless we return to our initial determination to reduce the spread of COVID-19 our numbers will continue to increase,” Aceng said in a press conference where she was accompanied by Commissioner General of Uganda Prisons, Johnson Byabashaija.

President Yoweri Museveni is expected to announce new stringent measures in his forthcoming presidential address that may include announcing a new lockdown in areas of Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.