Leading Pentecostal based Watoto church has refuted allegations that choir members who returned from UK and Canada mixed with Congregation upon arrival.
According to Church, its congregation is safe in the wake of the news of 11 of the choir members returning from a trip in the UK and Canada testing positive for the Coronavirus.
The church said the team of choir members returning from the UK and Canada had been quarantined at government approved centres and didn’t interact with the ones in Uganda.
Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo, Associate Team Leader, Watoto Church said in a statement that the two choirs comprised of 12 children and 10 adults each.
“As per Government requirements, both choirs have been quarantined at government approved centres in Entebbe, since their arrival at Entebbe International Airport on 20 March 2020,” he said.
Pastor Rwotlonyo added that on March 27, 2020, one of the adult chaperones from the choir returning from the UK tested positive for the Coronavirus after displaying mild symptoms and he was immediately isolated from the rest of the team.
“Upon further testing, 3 more adults and 1 child on the same choir tested positive and these individuals were immediately isolated from their group and taken for treatment and other tests were also done for the remaining choir members,” he said.
The Church said it has since learned through the Ministry of Health that an additional 6 children and 3 adults on the same choir had also tested positive and will immediately be taken for treatment, a development that brought Uganda’s cases to 44.
Pastor Rwotlonyo expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Health and their health officials for working hard to provide adequate care for Watoto children and adults, and all of those affected at this time.
“Thankfully none of the adults or children, on the choir returning from Canada, has shown any signs
of the virus. All of the Watoto children and mothers in our Watoto Villages remain unexposed to the virus, and are safe and healthy,” said Pastor Rwotlonyo.
He encouraged members of the Watoto family to continue to pray for the full recovery of the affected choir members, and the health and safety of everyone in this season, and also called on Ugandans to uphold the Ministry of Health guidelines to stop the spread of the virus.
“We are also extremely grateful for the continued support and encouragement of friends, partners, and members of Watoto in Uganda and around the world,” he said adding:
“Finally, let’s all continue to be vigilant in taking the necessary steps to combat the spread of the virus as we continue to pray. We believe that God will carry us through this season”.
Uganda has registered 44 cases of Coronavirus by April 1, 2020.
