Amuru Resident district Commissioner Geoffrey Orsbon Oceng has decided to use an iron hand to get all the frontline workers vaccinated against Covid-19.

Most of them are reluctant to the jab given blood clotting allegations and its suspension in Western countries of the world. 

So although being vaccinated in voluntary both in Uganda and the rest of the world, in Amuru district it will be compulsory for the front liners.

The 476 of the 486 targeted health workers in the district who have been dodging the jab have now been given 7 days by the RDC to comply.

In March, the district health department was the first to receive 3,000 dozes of the AstraZenica vaccine from the Ministry of Health targeting 486 registered health workers but only 10 of them have been vaccinated since then.

RDC Oceng who doubles as the Chairperson COVID-19 Taskforce said despite the exercise being voluntary, they District Security Committee as issued 7-day ultimatum to the District Health Officer, Dr Patrick Odong Olwedo to exhaust the vaccine stock or the health workers withholding their salary.

When contacted, Dr Olwedo confirmed receiving the directive.

Cumulatively, Uganda has confirmed 40,751 COVID-19 infections, 40,379 recoveries and 334 death toll.