Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson
Ugandans have taken to internet blasting Ministry of Health for halting the ongoing Mass COVID-19 vaccination at Kololo to give way for preparation of the venue for the State of Nation Address on Friday 4th June 2021.
The angry reaction followed a communique sent out by Emmanuel Ainebyoona, the Ministry of Health Spokesperson announcing a halt to the exercise.
Ainebyoona wrote, “COVID-19 Vaccination at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds halted as the Grounds are being prepared for the State of the Nation Address. Ministry of Health will communicate accordingly.”
The pronouncement came amidst Wednesday results on statistics of Covid that indicated that a total of 6,851 received their Covid jabs at Kololo and of these, those that received the first jab were 6,143 while 708 received second jab.
First to protest the move was a one Odong who wrote on Twitter, “So the SON address is more important than the lives of the people that he wants to come and address ??????”
Another Twitter user Emma Geria replied writing, “Irony is that the address will focus on covid-19. Other available options are City square, Sheraton gardens, impis grounds Makerere university, Railway gardens, UMA upper grounds among others. The unavailability of Kololo shouldn’t be an excuse.”
Wesley Kambale bashed Government over it’s decision, “So, a State of the Nation address is important than a vaccination activity that’s intended to save lives? While a SoTN can delivered virtually, can vaccines be delivered virtually, too? What kind of spirits possession you people?”
The same anger was shared by Timothy Kirimanya who noted, “When you realize your health is less ‘importanter’ than the rhetorical State of Nation Address (SONA), how about he speaks from state house, better still Ministry of Health to emphasize the peril of covid19.”
Mariah Carter wondered why President Museveni didn’t deliver his address at either State House Nakasero or Entebbe instead of halting the whole vaccination process.
President Museveni is slated to give his State of Nation Address on Friday and after a week, he will deliver the2021/2022 national budget on 10th June 2021.
Ministry of Health recalled all vaccines from upcountry health facilities to Kampala and started the Mass vaccination at Kololo on Monday.
However, some people blamed the Ministry for taking vaccination to Kololo well knowing the venue had been designated for national events.
But this would be Museveni’s second State of Nation Address following the declaration of Covid in Uganda and last year, he addressed Parliament while at State House of Entebbe. Little is known why he didn’t do the same this time around, especially given the fact Uganda is in midst of its second Covid wave.
The President even announced plans to address Nation on new measures government has come up to contain the second Covid wave on Sunday.
He wrote on Twitter, “I met the National Taskforce on COVID19 this afternoon at State House Entebbe. I will address the Nation on Sunday 6th June at 8pm on the steps we have decided to take to curb the new wave.”
