Prof. Eli Katunguka Rwakishaya, the Vice Chancellor has revealed that “we have received information from the Director of Medical Services at our medical center that there are increasing cases of Covid-19 infections in the University.

So far over fifty students and staff have tested positive.  In addition, many students have cough and flue and a number of them have refused to be tested, hence the situation may be worse than is reported. The situation is not different from other places the difference is that we have been able to test our community members. The Vice Chancellor said this while addressing journalist in the Council Room at the university.

With the cases rapidly increasing, the Vice Chancellor announced stringent measures including:

  • All meetings must be online, no physical meeting is going to take place
  • Reducing the number of staff coming to the university
  • Lecturing is strictly going to be online, all physical lectures must stop
  • Limiting the number of people accessing the university

He said since reopening of the university, they have stepped up efforts ensuring no person enters the university without masks and provided hand washing facilities at different points of entry. “The challenge we are facing is that upon entry, students remove their masks and move around the university without them” he said.

Katunguka decried falsehoods on social media from students denying existence of Covid-19 at Kyambogo, which he said has undermined efforts to control the spread of the disease as well as rumours that the university has closed due to COVID-19 before urging the population to disregard such lies.

Studying Online

Before reopening the university, he revealed that they had planned for blended learning involving both physical and online learning. “The existence of COVI-19 at the university coincided with their earlier plan of going online” he said.

Unfortunately, some section of students are opposing ODeL, he said, adding that last week, students, led by their Guild President were striking that they want to study physically before stressing that “we shall not allow this”.

The Professor urged all Deans and Heads of Departments to engage the students through ODeL as planned and shown in the schedule released by the Academic Registrar.  “I am glad that a number of faculties have already taken this move” he said. He further urged all members of staff to get their vaccinations, which will be available at the health facility on June 4th, 7th and 8th.

Students should observe the SOPs, engage in learning through ODeL and for staff and students who have cough and or flue, please stay at home until you recover. Let everyone be alert and together we can protect ourselves from this surge of COVID-19.

The professor concluded requesting the government to reopen Namboole for COVID-19 patients to be admitted there instead of leaving them for home care.

By Reuben Twinomujuni