Commending the President's efforts and commitment to the COVID-19 fight

COVID-19 | LEADERSHIP 

By Katherine Nabuzale

I would like to commend His excellency the President of the Republic of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni,  the ministry of health and all the Covid-19 team for the great work being done at this critical moment when the world is faced with a strange pandemic.

Your firm and focused approach towards this global crisis is laudable and has helped keep the population calm despite the magnitude of the disease.

Having one strong voice at the forefront of this battle against Coronavirus in Uganda has been fundamental in rallying everyone in the country to actively and together fight this pandemic.

The President's new mantra of safety above else is impressive as it's the campus upon which decisions to protect the population are revolving. His directives and guidelines from the ministry of health are the reason the situation in the country isn't that tense.  And if we religiously obey all the measures that have been put in place then victory will surely be achieved.

It is also worth applauding the food distribution gesture well knowing that there are those in our midst who live on less than a dollar a day. However, it is such an embarrassment that despite the government's best intentions, there are those whose resolute is tainting these efforts.

The current scandal in the Prime minister's office is very deplorable! Going by the press and media reports, four officials from the office of the prime minister colluded to commit a fraudulent practice during the procurement of relief food items for COVID-19 by inflating prices from those offered by the supplies. 

On the orders of the president for special investigations into the procurement process, this execrable act was discovered. The officials are now under arrest and on remand as investigations into their case continue. This level of greed is detestable and should be condemned in the strongest terms possible. 

The call to protect all health workers in the country regardless of the current situation as directed by the president should quickly be adopted. Health workers are front line soldiers struggling to provide care and treatment round the clock.

The call also extends to the most remote places and shouldn't consider only those in urban locations. Secondly, adopting hygienic practices should become part and parcel of our daily living. A quick look around our neighborhoods shows that ours is a culture that isn't keen on cleanliness and proper hygiene.

Much as we have been forced by COVID-19 to wash our hands many times a day as instructed, that is just about it. Our sanitation is lacking and neither do the majority of us have any idea of what proper waste and garbage disposal entails.

When we think of diseases and the burden, they put on our week health sector, much of the solution lies in the preventive measures against these diseases. And top on the list is cleanliness, the practice of proper hygiene and sanitation as well as right disposal of wastes and garbage. Local councils should be held responsible for this as they are the main persons in leadership close to their respective communities.

It is said, that you can never know the power within you until you are faced with adversity. The president's call for donations continues to yield very impressive results. Just that let the funds and the resources go to the intended use alongside due accountability to the public.

These same collective efforts should be carried on and used to solve many of our problems as a nation instead of always looking elsewhere. Actually, the donations have proved and shown that there is so much power and ability within us that can positively impact our lives as well as communities.

Take the case of poor sanitation and hygiene in Kampala slums. Only a few contributions from the willing and able could transform those slums into decent living environments. They won't become upscale neighborhoods but will be habitable enough for human living.

Collective effort is a measure that can bring us much success if we organise ourselves around this principle. Uganda is a nation well endued with enough natural resources that should be exploited for the development and economic growth of the country. What is needed is investment in Research and innovation, creativity and promotion of talents as well as committed leadership that can expeditiously bring results. Arresting those who think they are being innovative only stifles inventions but building well-facilitated innovation hubs is a stride in the right direction.

As lessons from COVID-19, now is the time to understand that no one is immune when dangers of certain magnitudes strike. In an era where capitalism and corruption have unarguably concentrated wealth in the hands of a few people, we recognize that all that can suddenly become meaningless unless there is some level of equality.

Much as inequality is an inevitable corollary of progress, we can navigate its effects through wealth sharing and redistribution.  In the form of provision of basic and social services that can be enjoyed by all. In this pandemic, we acknowledge that building and strengthening systems and sectors that equally serve all of us is the most important. We realize that investing in home solutions like Research and science, strengthening industry and production, promotion of innovation and invention are key for economic survival and stability as well as investment in human resource and social security.

Setting a precedent that the ability to solve a nation's challenges is with and within its people is the best legacy that can be left for the in-coming generations to emulate.

rkatham@yahoo.co.uk