President of Uganda Museveni will get international recognition for combating COVID-19

Next month in Canada, Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, is anticipated to receive a global award for his “distinguished leadership and dedication” in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.

The First International Post-Covid Conference in Toronto, Canada, is where the prize will be presented.

At the same ceremony, around eleven government representatives, scientists, and businesspeople are anticipated to receive recognition for the critical role they played in limiting pandemics like COVID-19.

Scientists from Uganda have assisted other countries in containing the Ebola epidemics. The country has had multiple illness outbreaks, including those caused by the Ebola virus, Covid-19, and Marburg.

The prize and recognitions, according to Abbey Walusimbi, a senior presidential advisor on diaspora matters, are also intended to acknowledge Uganda as a pioneer in the containment of pandemics in Africa.

“To recognize the significant role he played in leading Ugandans—that required high-level visionary [leadership] and decision—and to acknowledge his distinguished leadership and dedication in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, the President will be awarded at a global platform,” Mr. Walusimbi announced in Kampala last Friday.

Livelihood Development Initiatives International (LDII) Canada organized the international conference in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), Continental Investments LLC-Vietnam, the African Union 6th Region Global, the Canadian government, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad).

President Museveni updated Ugandans on control measures and had multiple meetings with scientists during the pandemic. He also addressed the country on a regular basis regarding the fight’s progress.

Certain specialists and advocates assert that the extended lockdown, curfew, and prohibitions on large-scale assemblies—all considered “radical” Covid-19 containment measures—came at the expense of people’s livelihoods, had an impact on the educational system, and were purportedly “weaponized” to suppress opposition politicians.

Managing Covid-19 has proven to be one of the most difficult, according to Dr. Bruce Kirenga, the director of the Makerere University Lung Institute and one of the medical professionals who treated Covid-19 patients.

“In my 22 years as a physician, I have never encountered a condition like Covid-19 that necessitates extra oxygen,” Dr. Kirenga stated.

The other Ugandans nominated for international recognition are Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu, director of the Uganda Virus Research Institute, former vice president Specioza Kazibwe, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, Science, Technology, and Innovations Minister Monica Musenero, and Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine.

Some are past ministers overseeing general responsibilities. Former presidential minister Mary Karoro Dr. Emmanuel Katongole, chairman of Quality Chemicals, Dr. Patrick Ogwang, developer of Covidex, Lt Col. Henry Kyobe, commander of the Covid-19 incident, and Francis Okello, from the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), are pictured with Esther Mbayo.