COVID-19: 153 Prisoners Test Positive as Uganda Registers 318 Cases In Single Day

Uganda has registered the highest number COVID-19 cases at 318 in a single day. The total number of confirmed cases now stands at 2,166.

According to the Ministry of Health, Amuru Prisons has 154 (153 inmates, 1 prison staff)cases, the contacts and Alerts in Kampala were Kampala 65.

“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.

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.