By Spy Uganda
There is jubilation at the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) after three of Dr Ruhakana Rugunda’s contacts this time round tested negative for Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Dr Rugunda went into self-isolation a few days ago after it was announced that some of this close contacts had tested positive for COVID-19.
However, after conducting thorough testing by the Uganda Virus Research Institute (UVRI), the Ministry of Health has since revealed that three (3) of Rugunda’s contacts were part of the 9 false COVID-19 cases that had been confirmed by the Makerere University COVID-19 Response team.
Following issuance of the results, Dr Rugunda tweeted on June 5 that he had gone into self-quarantine as a precautionary measure even when his own tests had turned out negative.
As a result of his self-isolation President Yoweri Museveni designated Gen Moses Ali, the First Deputy Prime Minister, to act in Dr Rugunda’s stead for the days the Prime Minister will be absent from duty.
We have since established that among the nine samples the Health minister, Dr Jane Ruth Aceng, mentioned during her weekend press briefing as false positive results, were three close associates of the Prime Minister.
However, the fate of the remaining six is still a mystery since the Ministry of Health is still tight-lipped about information concerning them.
The three contacts reportedly include a member of his family, driver and bodyguard. Speaking after the Budget speech last week, President Museveni said there had been carelessness in the handling of COVIS-19 testing at a laboratory at Makerere University, leading to declaration of false negative samples as positive. He directed the Health minister to explain the discrepancies.
Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the senior spokesperson of the Ministry of Health, said: “The individuals whose results had been falsely declared positive were notified that it was a mistake. The ministry cannot give you their details; that would be unethical.”
Following Dr Rugunda’s move of self-isolation, all staff at the Office of the Prime Minister’s offices underwent compulsory testing, starting with those working closely with him, including secretaries, drivers, security detail, cleaners and assistants.
The tests were conducted by a team of UPDF medical doctors and all results from the first batch of tests turned out negative.
Later during her address, Dr Aceng confirmed that due to technical glitches, some samples tested between June 3 and June 4 that were negative were posted as positive.
She said that on further examination and retesting, the samples turned out to be negative and that the concerned persons were duly informed.
