Yoweri Museveni, 78, of Uganda, stated on Thursday that he had taken a “forced leave of absence” after testing positive for Covid-19.
“Yesterday morning, I had symptoms similar to moderate flu,” the president said in a statement, adding that a test revealed he was infected with the Covid-19 virus.
“As a result, I have separated myself… (and) entrusted my duties for today and tomorrow to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja,” he continued.
“Thank God, everything is well and I am just feeling minor symptoms. Nonetheless, for the time being, I prefer to take measures and separate myself “He went on to say.
Mr Museveni, one of the world’s longest-serving leaders, has ruled his small East African country with an iron fist for several decades.
Once hailed as a reformer, he took the reins of Uganda in 1986, helping to end the authoritarian regimes of Idi Amin Dada and Milton Obote.
But the former rebel leader has since cracked down on dissent and changed the constitution to keep himself in power.
In Uganda, the repression of civil society, lawyers and activists has increased in recent years, according to many human rights organisations.
According to the Ministry of Health, Uganda has officially recorded 170,255 cases of coronavirus infection and 3,632 deaths since the start of the pandemic in 2020.
