Uganda extends lockdown to contain COVID-19
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on Tuesday announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown for 21 more days to contain COVID-19 pandemic.
Museveni in a televised address said the 14-day shutdown that was meant to expire at midnight on Tuesday is extended to May 5.
"The government has decided to extend the stay-home decision for another 21 days. This is in order to give ourselves more time to study the situation for a longer period," said Museveni.
He said all the other previous preventive measures announced will stay place for the additional three weeks.
"This additional 21 days will definitely help us to defeat this virus decisively or if not defeated totally to help us better prepare to cope with the virus," said Museveni.
"We shall defeat this virus by protecting our people from its rapid spread. You have seen how much damage coronavirus has caused in other countries. We should not allow that to happen here," he added.
He said the government will draw plans to open up the east African country before the expiry of the additional 21 days lockdown.
"We shall have to work out a systematic plan of how to bring things back to normal before the 21 days elapse," said Museveni.
Uganda has registered 54 confirmed cases, with at least seven people already discharged after recovery. (Xinhua)
