Photo: Facebook.com/WatotoCanada
President Museveni revealed during his televised address to the nation on Tuesday that several members of the Watoto Children’s choir who were quarantined following their return from the United Kingdom, tested positive for the coronavirus.
The new development brings Uganda’s confirmed cases to 44.
Since 1994, Watoto Children’s choirs have travelled the world, sharing a message of hope for Africa’s most vulnerable children and women.
Pastor Julius Rwotlonyo, the associate team leader at Watoto issued a formal statement moments after the President’s address, confirming this report.
He explained how the Choir’s 6 children and 5 adults who returned from the UK tested positive for the virus.
The Children include:
- 9-year-old Ugandan female a resident of Suubi Watoto village.
- 7-year-old Ugandan female resident of Suubi Watoto village.
- 10-year-old Ugandan female and resident of Suubi Watoto village.
- 10-year-old Ugandan female a resident of Suubi Watoto village and is a contact to a previously confirmed case.
- 9-year-old Ugandan male a resident of Biira village.
- 8-year-old Ugandan male a resident of Suubi Watoto village
The adults include:
- 29-year-old Ugandan female a resident of Kyanja, Nakawa who was a contact of one of the previously confirmed cases.
- 27-year-old Ugandan male and resident of Mpererwe, Wakiso who traveled from the UK.
- 30-year-old Ugandan male, resident of Kisasi in Kampala arrived from UK
- 27-year-old Ugandan female, resident of Kavule Makerere who arrived from the UK
- 26-year-old Ugandan male, a resident of Katabi, Wakiso, also arrived from the UK.
Read the full statement below.
Two weeks ago, two of our Watoto Children’s Choirs returned from the UK and Canada following the global COVID 19 pandemic. The two teams are comprised of 12 children and 10 adults each.
As per Government requirements, both choirs have been quarantined at Government approved centres in Entebbe, since their arrival at Entebbe International Airport on 20 March 2020.
On 27 March 2020, one of our adult chaperones from the choir returning from the UK, tested positive for the Coronavirus, after displaying mild symptoms. He was immediately isolated from the rest of the team.
Upon further testing, 3 more adults and 1 child on the same choir tested positive. Following procedure, these individuals were immediately isolated from their group and taken for treatment. Other tests were also done for the remaining choir members.
Today, 31 March 2020, we learned that an additional 6 children and 3 adults on the same choir have also tested positive and will immediately be taken for treatment.
We are grateful to the Ministry of Health and their health officials, who are working hard to provide adequate care for our children and adults, and all of those affected at this time.
Thankfully none of the adults or children, on the choir returning from Canada, has shown any signs of the virus. All of the Watoto children and mothers in our Watoto Villages remain unexposed to the virus, and are safe and healthy.
As we continue to pray for the full recovery of the affected choir members, and the health and safety of everyone in this season, we encourage everyone to uphold the Ministry of Health guidelines to stop the spread of the virus.
We want to thank the President of Uganda, the Minister of Health and all the various Government officials for their leadership in this challenging season, as we fight the spread of the virus.
We are also extremely grateful for the continued support and encouragement of friends, partners, and members of Watoto in Uganda and around the world.
Finally, let’s all continue to be vigilant in taking the necessary steps to combat the spread of the virus as we continue to pray. We believe that God will carry us through this season.
May God bless you.
