Ugandan President says schools may not open until next year

By Kiyimba Joseph

Kampala,Uganda (RTN) -School going Children will have to wait longer than expected to resume classes after the president hinted on extending opening days for institutions.

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni on Thursday June 11th 2020 during the 2020/2021 National Budget day said schools will not be opened anytime soon.

 

The President as well hinted on a possibility that schools could remain closed for a whole year of 2020 stressing that the increased cases in the number of Corona virus cases in the country worries the authorities. 

“Many parents have been calling me that we keep the schools closed for the safety of their children. The parents told me that even though we open schools they won’t allow their children to return to classes until the situation normalizes” President Museveni noted.

President Museveni said that however, parents are so protective of their children and are currently bombarding him with calls asking him to postpone reopening of schools.

“I can tell you parents have been calling me asking that schools shouldn’t be reopened. They are saying that even if the year is wasted it is ok,” Museveni said.

In a scientific budget day speech at State House Entebbe, President Museveni rudely lashed at Ugandans who have become reluctant on following guidelines he issued in March in a bid to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

The President wondered why some people in Uganda had resumed convening in large numbers on burials and weddings which are all against the guidelines he set for Ugandans to follow in abid to stem Corona virus pandemic.

“This must stop. I hear people have started converging on burials and weddings again. I as well hear that People are moving without masks, why?” Museveni noted.

He also explained that there is a high number of truck drivers testing positive on returning from South Sudan where he said truck drivers briefed him about how they are treated by South Sudan Authorities to transport sickly residents.

“The drivers told me that while in South Sudan they are forced to carry people and that is how they get the disease,” Museveni added.

The President said he complained to his counterpart Salva Kiir who promised to save the situation showing optimism of reducing the scourge.

Museveni maintained that weddings must be attended by not more than 10 people.

As of June 11th 2020, Uganda has 667 confirmed COVID-19 cases.

According to Health Ministry, Uganda has a total of 118 recoveries and no COVID-19 related deaths.