Uganda ‘denies Covid tents were blown away’

Uganda’s health ministry has denied reports that tents meant for Covid-19 patients were blown away by the wind, according to an investigation by NTV Uganda.

NTV said that a finance report revealed 13 tents, put up at Namboole Stadium, were blown away by the wind after a heavy storm because the turf could not support them.

NTV added that the tents cost 3.8 billion Ugandan shillings ($1m; £744,000) – something that generating public interest that forced the ministry to respond.

But the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Health Diana Atwine said the tents were not put up at the stadium after consultations with the management and instead they were distributed across government hospitals.