DELAYED REOPENING: Museveni Reportedly Advised to Postpone Reopening for Two Weeks over Omicron Puzzle

The Covid19 Taskforce has reportedly advised President Yoweri Kaguta Tibuhaburwa Museveni to delay reopening of schools and the entire economy for at least two weeks over Omicron variant concerns.

Uganda confirmed Omicron cases weeks ago.

Also, in the past one week, the number of Covid19 cases has been rising up, crossing the 1,000 mark on most of the days.

The rise in cases comes just a few days to the date set for the full reopening of the economy.

In his previous address on the Covid19 response, Museveni said the economy would fully reopen in January 2022.

His wife and education minister Janet Museveni has since confirmed the reopening date for schools after almost two years of closure.

But in the wake of the Omicron variant, President Museveni summoned the Covid19 Taskforce to his country home of Rwakitura in Kiruhura District to discuss a status report on Covid19 in the country.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja presented the Taskforce’s report.

The team of experts on the taskforce reportedly recommended that President Museveni should delay reopening for at least two weeks.

The 14 days, argued members of the taskforce, would allow government to better study the Omicron variant trends in Uganda before making a final decision on full reopening.

But other sources familiar with what transpired in the meeting claimed the taskforce had recommended reopening despite the rising cases of Covid19, and that restrictions such as curfew should be removed.