Uganda's Nalubale Dawa Covid vaccine research underway -Museveni

Museveni takes a Covid jab

By Tonny Abet

President Museveni has said Ugandan scientists are developing Nalubale Dawa (ND) Covid-19 vaccine as a local innovation to increase fight against the pandemic.

"The vaccines are getting more available globally, however, we are working hard on our own vaccine which we shall call Nalubale Dawa. I thought about (using the name) Kiira Dawa but because the car people had taken the Kiira (name), I think we should leave Kiira to them and maintain Nalubale (Dawa)," he said.

He said this today night during his address to the nation on Covid-19 and security.

The President had earlier last year said Ugandan scientists would get the Covid-19 cure or vaccine earlier than developed countries.

Since the outbreak last year, the coronavirus has infected about twelve hundred thousand people and killed over 3000 people in the country.

In his address, the President said Uganda is banking on Covid-19 vaccination to fully reopen schools and economy in January next year. He said the government will reopen the economy whether people are vaccinated or not.

Over 6 million out of 15.5 million doses of the vaccines acquired by government through donations and direct procurement have been administered.

 The government is racing to vaccinate at least 21.9 million Ugandans to contain the pandemic.