East African Gazette
The President of Uganda Gen. (Rtd) Yoweri Museveni’s efforts in combating the global COVID-19 pandemic have been acknowledged.
He is set to receive an award at the upcoming International COVID-19 conference in Toronto, Canada.
Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, confirmed that Museveni will be honored on an international platform for his leadership in the fight against the pandemic that has affected the entire world.
The COVID-19 virus, believed to have originated from China, claimed the lives of over 6.86 million people out of the total 769 million number of accumulated cases worldwide, with Uganda recording 3000 deaths.
Thanks to Museveni’s proactive measures, including the implementation of a total lockdown to prevent the spread of the disease, which kept the number of fatalities in Uganda relatively low.
Uganda’s success in combating the COVID-19 virus has been recognized globally, with Lancet ranking the country as number one in Africa and 10th in the world.
The country’s efforts in suppressing the pandemic, reducing mortality rates, controlling the spread of the virus, and providing relief food to the public contributed to this achievement.
During the upcoming award ceremony, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and various individuals, including Ugandans, will be honored for their roles in fighting the virus.
Notable figures to be recognized include Dr. Specioza Kazibwe, Senior Presidential Advisor on Population and Health, Mary Karoro Okurut (Senior Presidential Advisor on Public Relations), Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng (Minister of Health), and Dr. Monica Musenero, the Minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation.
Others are Dr. Daina Atwine the permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Patrick Engeu Ogwang (Covidex innovator), Prof. Pontiano Kareebu (Director of Uganda Virus Research Institute), and Dr. Emmauel Katongole, co-founder of Quality Chemical Limited.
The event, centered around the theme “Assessing the Impact of COVID-19: Fostering Synergies and Resilience for Future Global Shocks,” will bring together global leaders, experts, and stakeholders to engage in discussions and devise strategies for pre-pandemic recovery efforts.
The conference will primarily focus on public health responses and ethical considerations, aiming to design, implement, and prepare the global community for future global shocks and emergencies through a well-coordinated and unified approach.
Furthermore, the conference will serve as a platform to deliberate on policies that promote the mobilization and equitable distribution of resources, address social and structural inequalities worldwide, and invest in the development of human capital.
On May 4, the International Health Regulations Emergency Committee of the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that COVID-19 no longer poses a public health emergency of international concern.