Uganda’s president Yowreri Museveni has introduced sweeping new anti-coronavirus measures including a ban on all vehicular movement except for essential workers to help curb a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic gripping the nation.

The country, like most other African peers had been left relatively unscathed by the first wave. It suddenly started experiencing a steep surge in COVID-19 infections last month after authorities confirmed they had detected presence of the Indian coronavirus variant.

“The country has seen a more aggressive and sustained growth of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Museveni said in a televised address

He said the daily number of people testing positive has jumped to over 1,700 from less than 100 just three weeks ago.

“We are experiencing very high hospitalization rates and deaths for COVID-19 patients among all age categories.”

In new measures to curb the pandemic, he banned movement of both public and private vehicles except those transporting patients and those used by essential workers like health workers.

An existing curfew that began at 9 p.m. was brought forward to 7 p.m. while venues like busy shopping centers, churches and sports arenas were closed.

The new restrictions, Museveni said, will last 42 days. To date, Uganda has registered a total of 68,778 COVID-19 cases and 542 deaths.

In the last two weeks local media has extensively reported most health facilities, both public and private, getting full and turning away patients while others have had oxygen supplies taxed.

The new restrictions could undermine a fragile economic recovery from the blow inflicted by last year’s lockdown.

Those restrictions contributed to a 1.1% economic contraction in 2020, but the finance ministry had projected before Friday’s new measures that growth would climb to 4.3% in the fiscal year starting July.

South Africa has declared 10 days of national mourning for Zambia’s founding president Kenneth Kaunda who died at the age of 97 following a bout of pneumonia, the presidency said Friday.

Zambia under Kaunda was one of the countries most opposed to the apartheid government and for decades hosted the exiled African National Congress (ANC) on its soil.

Kaunda was the first foreign leader South African liberation icon Nelson Mandela visited on his release from prison in 1990.

“In remembrance of this great leader the South African government has declared a period of mourning for 10 days with immediate effect,” said a statement from President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office.

Zambia itself is observing 21 days of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and all entertainment banned.

Ramaphosa said Kaunda is a “rightfully revered father of African independence and unity” whose “leadership was a source of inspiration and resilience”.

“Under his leadership, Zambia provided refuge, care, and support to liberation fighters who had been forced to flee the countries of their birth,” said Ramaphosa.

“He stood alongside the people of South Africa at the time of our greatest need and was unwavering in his desire for the achievement of our freedom,” said Ramaphosa.

“We will never be able to repay the debt of gratitude” owed to Kaunda, he added.

In neighbouring Botswana, President Mokgweetsi Masisi has ordered seven days of mourning in honour of the “selfless” Kaunda, an “iconic statesman of the highest credentials”.

Kaunda ruled Zambia for 27 years, taking the helm after the country gained independence from Britain in October 1964.

While in power he hosted many of the movements fighting for independence or black equality in other countries around the region.

Zambia President, Edgar Lungu collapsed in the capital, Lusaka, during the 45th Defense Forces Day Commemoration and Investiture ceremony on Sunday, June 13.

The Private Secretary to the Zambia President, Simon Miti made it known in a statement that the President truly collapsed at the event but recovered immediately after experiencing sudden dizziness.

The statement read, “The President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, this afternoon experienced sudden dizziness whilst officiating at the 45th Defence Force Day Commemoration and Investiture Ceremony.

“His Excellency recovered immediately and walked to the official car and returned to his residence at State House.

“The President wishes to assure the general public and all concerned citizens and the international community that he is well and has continued to discharge his duties as Head of State, Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force.”

The four-hour ceremony took place at the Freedom Statute on Independence Avenue where the Defence Forces show-cased their military ware.

President Lungu also used the Commemoration to conduct an Investiture Ceremony to honour gallant men and women in Uniform.