Kenyan trucker who died in Uganda was Covid-19 negative – Ministry

Kampala—15, June 2020: The Ministry of Health has revealed that a Kenyan trucker who died in Busia last week was Covid-19 free.

“On Saturday, 13 June 2020, a Kenyan truck driver who was sleeping on his mat under his truck in Busia District was found dead. The Ministry of Health conducted investigations into his sudden death, which revealed that he entered Uganda via Malaba Point of Entry on 31 May 2020 with a negative Covid-19 test. A sample was taken off his remains by the surveillance team for a retest and found negative for Covid-19. The Ministry would like to reiterate that to date Uganda has not registered any Covid-19 related death,” Dr Henry G. Mwebesa, Director General Health Services says in his Monday Press Release.

The Ministry has also confirmed nine new Covid-19 cases for Sunday out of 2,677 total samples tested on 14, June 2020.

“Four new cases were among 1,813 samples tested from Points of Entry while five new cases were among 864 samples from alerts and contacts. All confirmed cases are Ugandans. Total Covid-9 confirmed cases now 705,” Dr Henry added.

Additionally, he added that thirty-seven foreign truck drivers: 32 Kenyans, 1 Tanzanian, 3 South Sudanese and 1 Eritrean tested positive for Covid-19 and were handed over to their country of origin.

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Confirmed cases

• Four of the confirmed cases are truck drivers; two arrived from South Sudan via Elegu Point of Entry while two arrived from Kenya via Malaba Point of Entry.
• Five of the confirmed cases are alerts and contacts to previously confirmed cases. These include: 2 contacts from Tororo who were under quarantine at the time of test, and 1 from contact from Amuru, 1 from Kyotera and 1 from Entebbe Districts.

To date, Uganda has registered a total of 299 Covid-19 recoveries