By Jesse Johnson James
Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce on Thursday afternoon intercepted a truck driver—a Somali national who tested positive for COVID -19.
He was intercepted in the vicinity of Buganda Pub in Gulu town after a surveillance team from the Taskforce was tipped off by concerned residents.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, the Gulu District Chairman who is also the Chairperson of Coordination Sub –Committee of the Taskforce told our reporter in an interview that the Somali national who entered the country from Kenya via Malaba Border had his samples taken on 10th May, the same day he drove to South Sudan.
According to Mapenduzi, he returned from South Sudan on 12th April when his result had already come out positive and was staying at his brother’s place located along Coronation Road in Gulu town.
Mapenduzi revealed that after being tipped off by some concerned residents, the surveillance team started tracking him using his phone leading to his interception.
The Somali national has been taken to the isolation ward at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital. Four of his brothers and one contact have been quarantined at the institutional quarantine center at Gulu School of Clinical Officers located in Laroo Division, Gulu Municipality.
Efforts to trace more of his contacts are underway by the Gulu District COVID -19 Taskforce.
Yoweri Idiba, the Gulu District Health Officer revealed that there are seven COVID -19 patients who are receiving treatment at Gulu Regional Referral Hospital Isolation ward.
Uganda’s Covid-19 cases now stand at 160.
