Former Vice President Dr. Speciosa Naigaga Wandira Kazibwe who gave a keynote address, tasked the Basoga to use their long-held unity of purpose to join hands in the fight against the virus.
Jinja – 26, July 2021: The Kyabazinga of Busoga William Wilberforce Kadhumbula Nadiope Gabula IV has once again rallied leaders to intensify sensitization campaigns to join the government in the fight against the dreadful COVID-19 pandemic.
Gabula reiterated calls by the Central Government through the Ministry of Health to religiously observe the SOPs to avert the spread of the virus that has killed more than 2,000 people, and infected close to 80,000 others.
“…COVID-19 is real and dangerous so avoid complacency, make sure your wear face masks correctly, avoid crowding, practice social distancing and wash hands or sanitize regularly…,” the Kyabazinga appealed.
He was speaking via a zoom link at the official launch ceremony of a media drive dubbed “Kyabazinga COVID-19 Sensitization Drive” held on Saturday 24 July, 2021 at the official palace at Igenge Hill, Wanyange in Bugembe Town Council.
Former Vice President Dr. Speciosa Naigaga Wandira Kazibwe who gave a keynote address, tasked the Basoga to use their long-held unity of purpose to join hands in the fight against the virus.
Kazibwe stressed the need for concerted efforts to involve and engage all stakeholders irrespective of any socio-economic, educational cultural status saying even the ones without any formal education have some expert knowledge.
“…I am appealing to Basoga to revisit the good old days when professionals and leaders would sit at a round table and brainstorm on issues that affect the region….” she pointed out.
Referencing on the January 14 presidential elections in which the baby opposition NUP party leader Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi got more votes, Kazibwe, clad in a yellow kitenge, lauded the Basoga for voting the way they did saying in unison a clear message was sent to the government.
An associate professor in the Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management at the College of Health Science School of Public Health Makerere University Peter Waiswa who also spoke at the function highlighted the numerous misconceptions the population has on COVID-19 pandemic.
Waiswa dismissed as false and propaganda talks by some people that the vaccines are a ploy by the western countries to depopulate Africa by injecting them to become impotent and infertile.
On allegations that medics rush to admit and kill patients in order to remove and sell their organs, the highly trained medical officer described it as regrettable saying the cardinal duty of all medical doctors is to save lives.
“…we swear Hippocratic oaths to treat the sick to the best of one’s ability, preserve patient privacy, and teach the secrets of medicine to the next generation, so no single doctor can deviate…” Prof Waiswa asserted.
The Kingdom’s Second Deputy Prime Minister Noor Ahmed Osman who organized the function commended MTN Uganda for the strong partnership with the cultural institution.
Osman, flanked by Prof. Juma Waiswa Balunywa in his capacity as chairperson Busoga Consortium reechoed calls by stakeholders to ensure key messages trickle down to the ordinary community.
“…we cannot sit and fold our arms to merely lament on how the virus is taking our people yet there are quite a number of interventions to mitigate the problem….” Osman said.
MTN Uganda Senior Manager regional operations Isaiah Ssemamuli who represented his company handed over 48,000 branded face masks as part of partnership for distribution to the population.