84% of Ugandans know about COVID-19 preventive measures - report

HEALTH   VIRUS   INFORMATION  

KAMPALA - A report by the Twaweza has indicated that 84% of Ugandans across the country are aware of COVID-19 preventive measures.

According to Marie Nanyanzi, the programs officer Twaweza East Africa, Twaweza had conducted research and established that majority of the Ugandans have an idea about COVID-19 and standard operating procedures introduced by the government to combat the virus.

"84% of Ugandans are aware of COVID-19 preventive measures but feel they don't have enough information, meaning the messages on COVID-19 should continue," Nanyanzi said.

Speaking during a media briefing on International Day for Universal Access to Information in Kampala on Friday, Nanyanzi noted that despite many Ugandans having knowledge about COVID-19, some still believe the virus is nonexistence.

The International Day for Universal Access to Information will be commemorated on Monday, September 28.

She said; "One in 10 Ugandans still ask is COVID real, they think it is something that has been politicized".

Following the outbreak of COVID-19 in March this year, the government introduced a raft of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) accompanied with awareness messages using both print and broadcast media to sensitize Ugandans about COVID-19.

With only one case in March, Uganda has since confirmed more COVID cases. As of Friday, Uganda had confirmed 7,218 cases of COVID, 71 deaths and 3611 recoveries.

According to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), much as the government has tried sensitizing Ugandans about COVID-19 and prevention measures, information remains cagey on accountability of funds raised by Ugandans towards the fight against COVID-19.

They noted that there is need for the government to be open on such donations for the public to trust in government.

"What we see the government giving out, is the information it wants to give out but it is hesitant to release what people want. Government is saying this is what you should do to prevent the disease when government officials flout the SOPs and people ask, whether this is not irregular, the government doesn't want to respond," Gilbert Sendugwa, the Executive Director Africa Freedom of Information Center, AFIC said.

However, President Yoweri Museveni on Thursday said the COVID-19 funds will be used to procure vehicles for use in the fight against the Pandemic which has claimed 71 lives in the country.

He added that part of the funds will be used to upgrade two blood banks in the country. The president's remarks come at a time when there were rumours that the funds had gone missing.

As Uganda joins the rest of the world to commemorate the world international day for Universal access to information, the CSOs appealed to the government to adopt and implement effectively the access to information in line with Model law on access to information for African Union member states adopted by the African Commission on Human and People's Rights in 2013.

"There is need by the government to actively undertake awareness of citizens right to information and how they can exercise it under the law," Sendugwa said.

The CSOs noted that as Uganda and the world at large battle the COVID-19 Pandemic, the access to information is critical in the fight against the Virus.

They want the government to adopt and effectively implement measures to promote transparency of COVID -19 procurements and access to information on COVID-19 response in general.

"We want to call upon those who say that sometimes the information is confidential to know that most of it is public information; the concept of access to information has not reached the citizens," Francis Ekadu, a programs officer Transparency international Uganda, said.

A recent shadow report by AFIC to parliament, on the implementation of Uganda's access to Information Act, found that it was largely not being implemented by ministries, department and agencies. 

According to AFIC, there is denial by the MDAs, to grant access to information while none of the MDAs was complying with the obligation to report to parliament.