President Yoweri Museveni has applauded Health Minister Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng for being hardworking and committed in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Museveni remarked days after she was filmed flaunting Covid-19 guidelines.
The minister was filmed addressing a congregation of people without observing social distance on top of not wearing masks. In response, the minister refuted all claims that she was not holding a political rally rather launching the distribution of face masks in Aromo Sub-County and training people on how to properly use the masks on Friday July 10, 2020.
During last night’s address on COVID-19 pandemic situation in Uganda, president Museveni said Dr. Aceng together with her team have done a great job in preventing the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
“One time I had gone to Lira in the days when we were fighting the terrorists and I found there a young lady hardworking, very dedicated, I noted her and then later alone I brought her because I could see that she was committed. I brought her to the ministry I said you come and bring the devotion I saw in Lira and she worked as Director General of Medical Services until when I appointed her a minister” he said
He said due to her remarkable efforts in fighting COVID-19 in Uganda, Langi people wrote to him requesting that he allow the minister represent them in parliament, an idea he initially didn’t support until she publicly declared her interest to stand for the Lira woman MP seat.
”Before that she had told me that she wanted to go and stand in Lira, I said no don’t because you don’t need to stand, your constituency is Nakasero. You do your work, your constituency is here. That’s when we were in Togo in January. So I thought I had convinced her to leave these Langi alone and concentrate on the medical work at the Ministry” revealed Museveni.
While commenting on the viral pictures and Video in which Dr. Aceng was seen interacting with people with no facemask and not observing social distancing, president Museveni said he doesn’t think the minister did it intentionally as she didn’t invite people to converge.
“I don’t think she’s the one who said you come and we have a rally, the problem was to put herself in a situation where these people would converge” said the president.
He advised politicians to do as much as possible to avoid crowds until the situation normalizes.
