Kampala LC1s to distribute govt masks

COVID-19|HEALTH|FACE MASKS

KAMPALA - Local council chairpersons have started distributing over two million face masks in Kampala metropolitan area, to control the spread of the coronavirus.

Betty Amongi, the Minister for Kampala, flagged off the distribution at Kampala Capital City Authority, (KCCA) Central division, on Friday. She said the distribution is to be done by local council leaders who have accepted to work for no pay in order to save people's lives.

Amongi said President Yoweri Museveni, during a cabinet meeting last week, directed the Ministry of Health to halt the distribution of masks in other parts of the country and refocus distribution in Kampala, Wakiso and Mukono.

Since Kampala counts for over 60% of the infections, Amongi noted that "the Government had realised that if we do not take keen interest in Kampala, it can be the centre that can contribute to the highest number of infections".

Though coronavirus education and awareness has been done, Amongi requested all Ugandans to wear their face masks at all time whenever they are talking in public in order to reduce the increasing cases of COVID-19 infections in Kampala.

According to the Ministry of Health, over 13 million face masks have been distributed to 30 districts across the country. Last week, the ministry delivered 5,225,854 face masks in the Kampala metropolitan area, Wakiso and Mukono districts.

During the distribution of face masks in Masaku zone, Makindye division, KCCA executive director Dorothy Kisaka said the consignments have been delivered to all the five divisions in the Kampala metropolitan area: Kampala Central, Kawempe, Rubaga, Makindye and Nakawa.

In Central division, 290 villages received 200,000 face masks, while Makindye division received 496,000.

In Kololo, Rasuul Abdullah, the LC chairman requested the Government to avail them with more masks because the ones they received were not enough. Kololo parish received three boxes each containing 500 pieces.