Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has reiterated the need to facilitate scientists amid efforts to fight the coronavirus.
On Wednesday, the president said through Twitter that his government will prioritise them, criticising those who claimed the government has sidelined teachers.
“We should not debate this; arts have a role but for a society to survive, it must not lag behind in science and technology. Do not waste our time with off-the-point arguments. I can quote for you Shakespeare or Julius Caesar, what will it help with curing Covid-19?”
Museveni said that no one should obstruct the government’s strategy of paying scientists well because they are needed most.
“We want to increase the salary of everyone but if we do not have enough money why not start with those that are most needed- the scientists!?”
He added, “All teachers should know this; I am a person of literature and history and I am the one leading the crusade of having science-oriented education because that is what life really hinges on for the last 4.5 million years.”
In July this year, Museveni laid the foundation stone for the construction of an mRNA vaccine-manufacturing facility by Dei BioPharma Ltd in Uganda.
He said that the facility will focus on applying biotechnology to solve health challenges of humanity through the creation of novel drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics.
“I can assure you that by the end of 2021, we shall no longer be waiting for outsiders to rescue us from mass death,” he said at the time, adding that a Ugandan vaccine for Covid-19 would hopefully be ready by the end of November 2021.
