Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni Recovering After Testing Positive For COVID-19

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has tested positive for COVID-19, but he is in good health and is self-isolating at his home in Nakasero.

Museveni, 78, announced his diagnosis on Twitter on Monday, saying that he had been experiencing mild symptoms, including a headache and a sore throat. He said that he had tested positive for the virus after taking a PCR test.

“I am in good health and I am isolating myself at home,” Museveni said. “I am taking medication and I am feeling much better.”

Museveni’s announcement came a day after reports on social media claimed that he had been admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) at a hospital in Kampala. These reports were later debunked by the Ugandan government.

“The President is in good health and he is self-isolating at his home,” said a statement from the government. “There is no need for alarm.”

Museveni is the second African head of state to test positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks. In May, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta tested positive for the virus and was subsequently hospitalized. Kenyatta has since recovered and returned to work.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Africa is facing a “rapid and concerning” surge in COVID-19 cases. The continent has recorded over 10 million cases and over 200,000 deaths from the virus.

The WHO has urged African countries to step up their vaccination efforts and to implement public health measures, such as social distancing and mask-wearing, to slow the spread of the virus.