This was revealed on Wednesday 1 march 2020 by Dr Diana Atwine, the Permanent Secretary ministry of health while appearing before the parliamentary committee on the budget. The committee was scrutinizing a supplementary request by government of Shs284b to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
The management of Mandela National Stadium (Namboole) has not been informed about any plans of turning the stadium into an isolation center if the numbers of COVID-19 cases increases. On April 1st, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry of Health, Dr Diana Atwine while appearing before the parliamentary committee on the budget said they would also use the stadium if the number of cases increases. The committee was scrutinizing a supplementary request by government of Shs284b to mitigate the effects of the pandemic. Dr. Atwiine said that at the moment, the cases are being handled from Entebbe Grade B hospital and Mulago national referral hospital. Atwine, however, told the committee that arrangements are already being made to have the stadium gazetted in case the two facilities get filled up. However, in a phone interview with The Uganda Times, the stadium manager Jamil Ssewanyana said he is not aware of the development and only read about it in newspapers. When The Uganda Times tried to inquire about the available space at the Stadium in relation to accommodating patients, the official said he cannot reveal any information since he is not aware of the arrangement. Some nations like USA, Italy, China and Spain that among those terribly affected by the COVID-19 are currently battling with issues of space to be used an isolation centers and treatment centers. Some countries have made makeshift health facilities. More than 1 million people have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 disease worldwide, as the death toll surpassed 51,000. Uganda has so far recorded 48 cases.
Shabomwe Ronard
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