Forum for Democratic Change (FDC), the main opposition party in Uganda, has requested the government of Uganda to order for the closure of all academic institutions for a period of two weeks due to the increased spread of the deadly coronavirus worldwide with the recent case being confirmed in Tanzania.
While addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Najjanankumbi Kampala yesterday, John Kikonyogo the FDC deputy spokesperson said that even though Uganda is still free from the virus, it should be laying down strategies to curb down the chances through which the virus can be spread. These include gatherings, handshakes which make it hard for pupils and students to abide by when they are still in their institutions.
“FDC wish to advice the government to close schools and other academic institutions for at least two weeks as the experts are monitoring the situation. Our culture makes it difficult for someone to avoid activities like hugging, handshake especially among school going children. But the only way to avoid this, is to close academic institutions for a given period of time probably two weeks are enough’’ Kikonyogo recommended.
Uganda’s neighboring countries like Rwanda and Kenya suspended all their school activities until further notice, aiming at stopping the spreading of the virus. Among the East African countries, it’s only Uganda, South Sudan and Burundi that have not yet reported any case of the virus as they are still looking for plans of preventing the virus from entering their countries.
