UGANDA HAS SPENT 51.8BILLION ON TESTING TRUCK DRIVERS

The Ministry of Health has confirmed 11 new coronavirus cases from 2575 samples analyzed on Monday July 13.

The new cases have increased Uganda’s cumulative total to 1040.

Of the 11 new cases, 8 are truck drivers, 2 are community infections from Kyotera and Hoima while one is a Ugandan national who returned from South Africa but was under quarantine at the time of test.

The Ugandan truck drivers, 6 arrived from Kenya via Malaba, one arrived from the Democratic Republic of Congo via Padea in Zombo district and one from South Sudan via Elegu border.

The Ministry of Health says 27 foreign truck drivers including 23 Kenyans, 2 Congolese and 2 Tanzanians tested positive for the virus were not allowed to enter Uganda.

“Uganda has so far spent Shillings 51.8billion on testing truck drivers for COVID-19 at different points of entry”, according to Ministry of Health.

Information from the Health Ministry shows that over 216,000 tests have been carried out on truck drivers at various boarder points including Mutukula, Adjumani and Elegu among others.

144,000 of these are foreign truck drivers while 72,000 are Ugandans.

Dr. Henry Mwebesa, the Director General of Health Services says they have spent 75% of the costs on testing foreign truckers saying the activity is not sustainable.