CORONA: Miss Tourism Uganda, Queen Kyeru Bridget says pandemic affecting tourism

Kampala – With President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni set to address the nation tomorrow [Wednesday] on coronavirus, the consequences of pandemic globally has started to affect Uganda’s economy – and her key sectors.

In his address tomorrow, it’s widely expected Mr Museveni will follow a decision already made by his Kenyan counterpart, His Excellency President Uhuru Kenyatta who has directed all schools and public places be closed.

Rwanda has taken a similar step, with most employees – directed to work from their homes – sources say.

Kenya and Rwanda are few among over 50 countries in Africa to have registered positive coronavirus patients, forcing two neighboring countries to act swiftly.

With Uganda yet to register a single positive case, surveillance and vigilance have been heightened by health ministry and her relevant stakeholders.

Speaking exclusive to TND News Tuesday evening in Kampala, Miss Tourism Uganda – Queen Kyeru Phiona Bridget says coronavirus is affecting “close the whole world” “and we all know that it’s not yet in Uganda but it’s already surrounding us”.

Miss Tourism 2019 – 2020, in the same interview asked Ugandans to take the right precautions or the right measures to prevent this disease, adding: “It’s something serious that is not only going to affect us as a country – economy but also affecting our tourism industry.”

The tourism queen calls on everyone to continue sanitizing as well quarantine in case one feels unwell, this, she said “will keep ourselves safe and our neighbours safe. Let us do it and keep Uganda safe.”

On how the coronavirus is going to affect the tourism industry, she said Uganda was receiving 98 percent of tourists who are foreigners.

She reveals that right now, no tourists are coming into the country because they are being restricted moving from one country to another.

“If at all we keep ourselves safe, it’s going to be safe for these tourists who want to come our country and it will be like, yes Uganda is safe; we can still go there and tour,” she adds.

With no available data on how coronavirus has affected tourism sector in Uganda, more than 50 percent of tourists as reported have cancelled their visits to The Peal of Africa, after government recently banned visitors from U.S, Italy, United Kingdom, Iran, San Marino, China, Spain, Belgium, among others.