Government is in the process of limiting the number of cargo trucks entering the country by road as part of the new measures to curtail the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
It wad noted that the move was informed by the shortage of testing kits vis-à-vis the number of truck drivers entering the country on a daily basis. More than 1,000 truck drivers enter Uganda every day and all these must be tested at the border points.
Ms Robinah Nabbanja, the State minister of Health for General Duties, stated that there was an ongoing inter-ministerial meeting to discuss the matter as one of the measures to decongest Mutukula, Malaba and Elegu border posts which, according to Health minister Dr Jane Aceng, have become epicentres of the new Covid-19 infections in the country.
“Previously, we were testing drivers and allowing them to proceed and get their results later but this strategy was changed,” Ms Nabbanja said, adding: “Today, there is congestion at Malaba to the extent that the queue of truck drivers waiting to be tested and getting their results stretches 50kms into Kenya and 15kms inside Uganda.”
Ms Nabbanja revealed the new government plot on Tuesday as Ministry of Health officials led by Dr Aceng received an assortment of medical supplies from the Inter Government Authority on Development (Igad). Dr Aceng explained that Uganda’s borders and the neighbouring communities have become the new sources of infections.
“Elegu right now is where most Ugandans are getting infected. Yesterday (Monday), we registered 12 Ugandan drivers who tested positive. We need protective gear to protect our health workers as they test the drivers,” Dr Aceng said.
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