Bobi Wine closes office over Coronavirus

HEALTH

KAMPALA - The Kyadondo East Member of Parliament, Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine announced the temporary closure of his Kamwokya based People Power offices over coronavirus.

Bobi Wine who is the leader of the political pressure group has been using the office to coordinate his political activities since he declared his intentions to contest for the highest office in the country (Presidency) in 2021.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Bobi Wine, announced the suspension of all the activities of the group to ensure the safety of supporters, its leaders and Ugandans in the wake of the pandemic.

"All People Power activities have been halted for the time being. Our offices are closed to the general public.

We shall, however, continue to use the available online platforms to communicate with the people of Uganda," Bobi Wine said.

He added: "The People Power movement, standards in solidarity with the people of the world as we all battle the deadly COVID-19.

We are pained by the death and sickness of so many people around the world, and can only hope that there will be a slowdown in the spread of this virus."

Uganda has nine confirmed Coronavirus cases. This followed the confirmation of eight new cases by the health ministry in wee hours of Tuesday morning.

According to health minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, all the cases are Ugandan nationals who travelled back from Dubai and UAE aboard the Emirates and Ethiopian Airlines flights.

People Power head offices in Kamwokya, Kampala

 
In a public statement Tuesday, President Yoweri Museveni indicated that the patients were responding well to treatment.

Bobi Wine paid tribute to the health care professionals in Uganda who are doing their best under difficult conditions to deal with the pandemic.

The pressure group, however, advised; "Now that some of the leading health care systems are being stretched, here in Uganda with our health care system, we must focus on stopping the spread of the disease. If more people get infected and critically ill, we shall have a big crisis on our hands."

"Remember we have persistently condemned the attitude of ignoring the health care of the common people of Uganda and flying out its high-ranking officials for treatment abroad.

The disease is challenging us to prioritize the wellbeing of our people moving forward," he said.

The group urged the government to take necessary measures to ease the burden caused by the disease on Ugandans by the disease putting out ten demands;

According to the pressure group, the government should ensure that individuals, companies, non-governmental organizations and other private entities do not terminate the employment of workers as a result of the effects of COVID-19.

It also wants the government to urgently take steps to stock all district and regional hospitals on top of health centres with the necessary equipment and facilities to deal with suspected cases of COVID-19.

"Government should suspend taxes on essential commodities such as food and health care essentials such as soap, toilet papers, sanitizers, among others," Kyagulanyi said.

They also want the government to negotiate with commercial banks so as to initiate loan concessions for individuals as well as small and media enterprises as is being done in other countries.