Uganda’s First Lady Janet tests positive for COVID-19

Uganda’s First Lady, also Minister of Education and Sports, Janet Museveni, 75, has tested positive for COVID-19 according to President Yoweri Museveni.

Although nearly all countries across the globe dropped the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) after the pandemic that ravaged tthe globe in 2020 and 2021 was declared over by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in May this year, Museveni has since largely maintained most of the SOPs.

All guests and staff who are within his proximity are always tested for COVID-19, must wear a mask, and must also maintain social distancing.

Museveni says that on Christmas day, after a family luncheon, Janet started having “sandy feeling” in the throat, headache and general body weakness which prompted the couple to carry out a rapid COVID-19 test which returned negative results.

However, another test sample that was sent to Mbarara hospital for a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test turned out positive. Museveni wonders how his tests turned negative yet he was in close contact with her.

“What is of interest is how I remained negative in spite of being with Maama all these days- sharing the room, the air-conditioned car to Entebbe and back to Nakasero. Was it because I am emponoka (survivor) of Corona of last May? Maama is now a first-time corona warrior. She is doing well,” he said.

The president himself tested positive for COVID-19 earlier in June this year.