BUVUMA POLICE: 10 suspects test positive for COVID-19

HEALTH|COVID-19|POLICE

BUVUMA - Authorities and residents in Buvuma district are worried over the increasing number of people testing positive for COVID-19.

The district surveillance focal person, Jimmy Masereka, told New Vision on Wednesday (October 14, 2020) that the district currently has 51 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

Masereka said of the 51, 34 were tested from Buvuma, whereas the 17 were tested from Buikwe district, although they were residents of Buvuma.

"The latest 10 confirmed COVID-19 cases are suspects who were in Police custody," he said.

"We evacuated them to Namboole Stadium for treatment apart from one who was very ill and was taken to Mulago Hospital because he had difficulty in breathing," Masereka, said.

The district Police commander, Salama Namutosi, declined to comment on the matter, saying she is not mandated to address the media.

Masereka said Lyabaana sub-county is leading with 25 COVID-19 positive cases in the district.

The Buvuma acting Resident District Commissioner, Cadre Juma Kigongo, said Lyabaana sub-county shares borders with Tanzania.

The security team suspected that since the fishermen cross to either country for fishing and selling of their fish products, this could have led to an increase in the cases.

Kigongo asked the Police together with the health ministry to conduct massive screening of all Police officers operating in Buvuma district.

"We need to safeguard the lives of our Police officers and their family members. I also suggest the closure of Buvuma Police Station for the mandatory 14 days as the premises undergo massive spraying," he said.

Buvuma Islands County MP Robert Migadde Ndugwa said the Government should equip Police stations with temperature guns and other requirements to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

This comes after the Government had started the distribution of free face masks to all the residents in Buvuma district.

About 102,000 face masks were distributed in nine sub-counties in the district. Kigongo and Migadde handed over the masks to different sub-county chiefs, who will oversee their distribution to the locals.

However, Migadde expressed dissatisfaction, saying the number of masks given to Buvuma was few compared to the over 200,000 people in the district.