Uganda’s total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 1,040 after the Ministry of Health reported 11 new cases on Tuesday.
“Of the 11 confirmed cases; eight are truck drivers, two are alerts from Hoima and Kyotera Districts. One is a Ugandan national who returned from South Africa and was under quarantine at the time of test,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry added that six of the eight truck drivers, who were all Ugandans, arrived from Kenya through Malaba border point, while the other two each came from the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan via Padea in Zombo District and Elegu respectively.
It further stated that 27 foreign truck drivers tested positive for COVID-19 and were denied entry at the border. The majority of the drivers (23) were Kenyan while the others were two Tanzanians and two Congolese nationals.
In May, President Yoweri Museveni issued an order to strike off all foreign truck drivers from the country’s case count.
Cross-border transmission of the coronavirus emerged as a concern in the East African region with truck drivers identified as high-risk individuals. Uganda was particularly vocal about this problem with the government coming under pressure to take action to stop importation of the virus.
While Uganda has reported 984 recoveries, of both Ugandans and non-Ugandans, it is yet to register a COVID-19 related death.
