Lockdown Looms As Museveni Set To Address Nation Over Surging Ebola Virus Cases

Hours after Ebola was confirmed in Jinja, Uganda’s State House has announced that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will make his fourth Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) status address.

In a statement released by the Presidential Press Unit (PPU) under the State House Department of Press and Public Relations on Monday, November 14, 2022,

“The Presidential Press Unit – PPU wishes to inform the general public that H.E. the President of the Republic of Uganda and Commander-in-Chief of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces, Gen (Rtd) Yoweri Kaguta Museveni will this Tuesday, November 15, 2022, at 8:00 PM address the nation to give updates on the current status of Ebola outbreak in the country. The address will be live on all Radio and TV stations,” read a statement from PPU.

President .@kagutamuseveni will address the nation tomorrow, Tuesday 15th November 2022.

Time: 08.00PM.

Tune in!#M7address pic.twitter.com/KpWsv75dzM

— State House Uganda (@StateHouseUg) November 14, 2022

In his previous third address, Museveni placed the districts of Mubende and Kassanda under an Ebola outbreak and issued 24 directives. (See Details and Museveni’s full third Ebola Address, word by word, Here and There).

Meanwhile, the Education Minister Janet Museveni has since declared the official date for the early closure of all Ugandan schools so as to prevent the spread of Ebola.

It remains to be seen what new tougher measures Museveni will announce on Tuesday. But the president recently announced his position on the possibility of declaring a national lockdown over Ebola.

The country’s Health Ministry confirmed the outbreak of the Ebola in Uganda on in September 2022. There had reportedly been a number of Ebola deaths before the official declaration but locals claimed that these deaths were caused by witchcraft.

From Mubende District, Ebola has spread to more districts of Uganda. About 10 districts have now confirmed cases.

On Sunday, Health Minister Dr Jane Ruth Aceng revealed that cases of Ebola had been confirmed in Jinja District where two people have already succumbed to the disease.

Currently, Uganda has registered 135 Ebola infections and 62 recoveries. The country has so far lost 54 people to the Ebola disease, and these include health workers, a hospital boss, an ambulance driver and eight children.