Uganda on Tuesday denied allegations that it is sending back foreign truck drivers who test positive for the coronavirus.
Ugandan Minister of Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng made the statement while responding to a comment on Twitter, following news from the Ministry of Health that 14 foreign cargo truck drivers who recently tested positive for coronavirus in Uganda had returned to their respective home countries.
The ministry’s statement said that the 14 foreign truck drivers were six Kenyans and eight Tanzanians.
“We are not sending back the positive truck drivers. We isolate and treat them at our health facilities. So far, we have 23 positive truck drivers. Out of these, one Tanzanian truck driver was officially repatriated, 13 truck drivers both Kenyan and Tanzanian exited Uganda on their own,” Dr. Aceng tweeted.
According to Dr. Aceng, seven non-Ugandan truck drivers are still admitted in Ugandan hospitals and undergoing treatment. The drivers are all in stable condition.
Uganda adds positive tests from neighbouring countries within its territory in its tally and treats such cases locally in accordance with World Health Organisation guidelines
Last Friday, Uganda recorded 11 positive tests out of who five were Kenyan truck drivers who arrived via the Malaba and Busia border points.
The issue of cross-border transmission of the virus has recently emerged as an area of concern in East Africa and heightened tensions in the region due to the response by some nations. Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have all expressed their concern over the phenomenon.
Uganda said it would have trucks from outside the country being sanitized at the border point and then handed over to a Ugandan driver who would take the vehicle to the final destination if in Uganda or the next border point.
However, an association of Kenyan truck drivers and transport companies, the Kenya Transporters Association, in a petition protested against the decision arguing that it will increase their cost of doing business and affect the security of their cargo. According to Ugandan publication the Daily Monitor, the Ugandan government is yet to respond to the petition.
“This would drastically increase the cost of transportation to the trucking companies while the business has been affected due to reduced cargo volumes and longer transit times. Transporters would also incur additional expenses in providing accommodation for additional drivers,” tbe petition said.
The Kenyan government also announced that it will begin targeted mass testing of truck drivers after some Kenyan drivers tested positive for the virus.
