President Yoweri Museveni of Uganda is set to be honored with a prestigious global award next month in Canada, in recognition of his "distinguished leadership and dedication" during the Covid-19 pandemic. The award ceremony will take place at the First International Post-Covid Conference in Toronto.
The event will also acknowledge the contributions of 11 other prominent Ugandans, including government officials, scientists, and business leaders, for their significant roles in combating pandemics like Covid-19. Uganda has a history of facing multiple outbreaks such as Ebola, Marburg, and Covid-19, and its scientists have been instrumental in helping other countries manage Ebola outbreaks.
Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, the senior presidential advisor on diaspora affairs, highlighted the significance of this recognition. He noted that the award not only celebrates President Museveni’s leadership but also positions Uganda as a model for pandemic containment in Africa.
"The President will be awarded at a global platform to acknowledge his distinguished leadership and dedication in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, and to recognize the significant role he played in leading Ugandans—a task that required high-level visionary leadership and decision-making," Ambassador Walusimbi stated in Kampala last Friday.
The First International Post-Covid Conference is organized by Livelihood Development Initiatives International (LDII) Canada, in collaboration with the Canadian government, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the African Union 6th Region Global, the World Health Organization (WHO), Continental Investments LLC-Vietnam, and the United Nations.
During the pandemic, President Museveni conducted numerous meetings with scientists and regularly addressed the nation to provide updates on the control measures. While some of the containment strategies, such as prolonged lockdowns, curfews, and restrictions on gatherings, faced criticism for their impact on livelihoods and education, they were pivotal in controlling the virus's spread.
Dr. Bruce Kirenga, director of the Makerere University Lung Institute and a frontline doctor during the pandemic, emphasized the challenges faced. "I have been a doctor for 22 years now, and I had never seen a disease which makes people require supplemental oxygen like Covid-19," Dr. Kirenga noted.
Other Ugandan Honorees
The other Ugandan figures set to receive international recognition include:
- Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng
- Science, Technology, and Innovations Minister Monica Musenero
- Health Ministry Permanent Secretary Diana Atwine
- Former Vice President Specioza Kazibwe
- Uganda Virus Research Institute Director Prof. Pontiano Kaleebu
- Former Minister for General Duties Mary Karoro
- Former Minister for the Presidency Esther Mbayo
- Quality Chemicals Chairman Dr. Emmanuel Katongole
- Covidex Developer Dr. Patrick Ogwang
- Covid-19 Incident Commander Lt. Col. Dr. Henry Kyobe
- Mr. Francis Okello from the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) National Enterprise Corporation (NEC)
- The UPDF as an institution
These individuals played crucial roles in managing the Covid-19 pandemic and other disease outbreaks, earning them recognition on the international stage.