The vice Chairperson of Kigezi Inter religious council Rev Fr Gaetano Batanyenda has lashed out at Uganda’s Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng for disregarding her own Ministry’s directives set up in a fight against COVID-19 after videos of her meeting with supporters without her mask on were made public.
A few days ago, different social media platforms were awash with photos and videos of the Minister of Health Ruth Aceng, who is seeking for Lira district Woman MP seat , taking part in a political procession and not practicing social distancing.
In her defense, Minister Aceng claimed that she was just overwhelmed by the numbers as she was lecturing the Village Health Team Members in Lira district on recommended use of face masks.
Speaking during a press conference at Kick Corruption offices in Kirigime ward Southern division Kabale municipality on Wednesday, Fr Batanyenda said that the minister’s decision to hold a public gathering where locals failed to observe the MOH directives was unfortunate and a direct betrayal of the ministry’s seriousness and commitment in fighting the pandemic in Uganda.
Fr Batanyenda said that there is no way Ugandans should continue to believe the numbers of the confirmed positive Covid-19 cases in the country when officials from the responsible Ministry of Health are coming up to publicly oppose their own established directives. He said the minister’s decision clearly shows that to some extent a section of officials are harvesting much from the outbreak.
Fr Batanyenda added that it’s unfortunate for the Ministry of Health officials to preach what they cannot practice.
He also wondered why the government has continued to close places of worship, boda bodas, and educational institutions when responsible officials are publicly breaking the put directives.
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