Museveni orders all political parties’ staff, flag bearers, independents to take Covid19 tests

President Yoweri Museveni has directed health minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng to expedite Covid19 tests for all political party aspirants and independent candidates.

Museveni recently revealed he was scared he had contracted Covid19 after he presented with symptoms such as sore throat.

Also, days ago, two staff at the Ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) secretariat tested positive for Covid19.

The two staff, a senior secretariat official, and a 24-year-old data entrant, had made contact with various officials, as well as party members seeking the NRM’s endorsement for the 2021 general elections.

NRM secretary general Kasule Lumumba has now revealed that the senior official had held meetings with key party leaders until 8pm on July 28 and had also reported as early as 7am the following day when results from the samples returned.

The two patients’ contacts have now been placed under quarantine and samples from other staff and secretariat members taken to the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI) for testing.

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Lumumba says Museveni now wants all political players to take Covid19 tests every two weeks.

“The president has ordered the health minister to write to all political parties to get ready for Covid19 testing for all staff and aspirants. The Ministry of Health will work with the Electoral Commission to ensure that staff and aspirants of registered political parties are sensitised and screened for Coronavirus,” the SG told Salt TV on August 01.

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Lumumba further revealed that besides political party players, other aspirants in active politics will also take mandatory tests every two weeks.

Reminding political players that Covid19 doesn’t discriminate based on party lines, she explained that the screening is meant to prevent the spread of the deadly respiratory disease from politicians to the electorate.

Government will not require parties nor independent political players to foot the testing bill, Lumumba said.

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