• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

OP-ED: Coronavirus offers Africa a chance to lead the world

watchdog by watchdog
5 years ago
in Conversations with, Op-Ed
12 0
Presidency Minister Milly Babalanda

Presidency Minister Milly Babalanda

ShareTweetSendShare

By Milly .B. Babalanda

The first Coronavirus case in Uganda was reported on March 22 (2020), about five months since the outbreak in Wuhan, China, where it all started. It was days and weeks since initial cases were reported in our neighbourhood. We had been holding our breath hoping that the infections would not catch up with us but that was not to be.

It’s coming to three weeks since the virus invaded our territory. Stringent measures to stem the spread were upgraded, in the process of which the social and economic situation of our country was adversely impacted. Events have since run so fast. The term “lockdown” became an unexpected reality of our times, with an initial lockdown being announced by our dear leader, President Yoweri Museveni, on March 30.

As of today (as I pen this article), no deaths have been recorded in Uganda and the number of infections remains staggering in the small fifties, few new or no infections at all being reported each day. Some patients have been discharged after healing, a warm discovery about the raging virus; it is not so deadly if caution can be taken and we continue to do so with utmost care for the wellbeing of one another.

President Museveni continues to provide strategic guidance and leadership to consolidate the gains. On Tuesday (April 14), he announced a follow-up lockdown of 21 days, taking time to elaborate why it was necessary to extend the lockdown, despite the painful inconveniences arising. It was too early to relax!

Prior to announcing the new lockdown, Uganda had recorded positive appraisal for its anti-Covid-19 efforts by none other the World Health Organisation (WHO). WHO believes that Uganda’s response has been quite enviable (and worth emulating).

We need to remember that Covid-19 is a global pandemic. Uganda’s performance, therefore, is judged in comparison with the responses of other countries including the developed ones, in this case US, China, Spain, Italy, U.K-all these have fared much worse since their infections and deaths range from anywhere between 10, 000s to 100, 000s. Possibly, they have just been unlucky and it is not a competition to see who survives earlier or faster. We are in this together as humanity. It should be noted that Africa has fared better in this crisis and anyone can provide strategic leadership for the world to defeat the enemy. It can be our president to lead the front; every leader or individual can do something unique that will see us put Covid-19 behind us.
Uganda’s position has benefited from the habitual emergency mode we have been in overtime in response to outbreaks of Ebola, yellow fever, measles, Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) and Marburg— in regular succession in recent times. The outbreaks have occurred internally- and externally, but close to our borders as was the case of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
On previous occasions, Uganda helped Western African countries (Liberia and Sierra Leone) overcome outbreaks that threatened to wipe out their populations.
While this might put Uganda slightly ahead of other countries in the region in terms of readiness, we are not taking any chances.
Under the overall guidance of President Museveni, the ministry of health, with support from various partners, has put in place a comprehensive response plan that is guiding ongoing anti-Covid-19 activities.
The partnership leaves nobody behind; from leaders across the political, social and cultural spectrum, to technocrats and medical experts, donors (regular and upstart), and the ordinary Ugandan heeding specific guidelines and directives, it is a united front against a common enemy. The oneness in this case has never been witnessed before. It should become our standard way of doing things.
At this juncture, victory is in sight and we should not relent or make careless mistakes. We should be ready to make a few more sacrifices just to be sure. With discipline and caution,the three weeks lockdown extension will make all the difference. Please, let us bear with the wholesome set of measures for human continuity’s sake!
In between, Government will continue making interventions to mitigate pressures experienced by the population in every way.
This is a peculiarly challenging and thought-provoking season in the known history of planet earth and a rude reminder that we survive together or perish together. Let’s use the occasion to prepare better for the foreseeable and unseen. We should also raise our scientific research profile by joining the medical community searching for the vaccine and cure. It’s not beyond us to try!

Some people thought that Covid-19 was the milestone for the end of the world but that is not true. The world is still here. It will only end for those who ignore warnings for safety and the few self-seekers exploiting the difficulties of the population for their own ends.

I have also heard of medics betraying their profession by skipping patients, fearing infection. If this is true, they must be replaced and real “fighters” brought in to safeguard collective interest. President Museveni’s revolutionary call in this era of Coronavirus is a service to the world at large and a chance for Africa to offer strategic leadership.

Milly. B. BABALANDA Personal Assistant to the National Chairman, NRM, and Senior Presidential Advisor (Political Affairs)


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
Share2Tweet2SendShare

Related Posts

Bwanika Joseph
Op-Ed

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36
Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)
Conversations with

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: For Parish Development Model to have impact in Karamoja, Government needs to partner with NGOs

4th July 2025 at 09:10
Ms Irene Naikaali Ssentongo,Country Director, 
The Hunger Project – Uganda
Conversations with

OP-ED: Epicenters of progress, accelerating the Parish Development Model

3rd July 2025 at 20:10
Next Post
Speaker Rebecca Kadaga

MPs reject taxes on land sale, rent

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1112 shares
    Share 445 Tweet 278
  • Silent Billionaire Bosco Muwonge Buys Mukwano Arcade at UGX 250 Billion Cash Down

    37 shares
    Share 15 Tweet 9
  • LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

    2286 shares
    Share 914 Tweet 572
  • Uganda’s Billionaires 2025: Once Again Sudhir Ruparelia Leads a Resilient Pack

    44 shares
    Share 18 Tweet 11
  • LIST : Gov’t releases Revised Salary Structure for Teachers, Police, and Prisons Staff for FY 2024/2025

    120 shares
    Share 48 Tweet 30
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

CAN JOHN BOSCO MUWONGE CLAIM A SPOT AMONG AFRICA’S WEALTHIEST?

5th July 2025 at 18:09
Bwanika Joseph

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia is set to speak at business forum in United Kingdom

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

CAN JOHN BOSCO MUWONGE CLAIM A SPOT AMONG AFRICA’S WEALTHIEST?

5th July 2025 at 18:09
Bwanika Joseph

BWANIKA JOSEPH: The Ballot and the Briefcase, Uganda’s Corporate Workers Must Vote for Fairness and Dignity

5th July 2025 at 10:36

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda