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KIGALI, Rwanda

Rwandan authorities on Tuesday re-imposed a lockdown in the capital Kigali after a recent spike in new COVID-19 cases and related deaths.

Unnecessary movements are restricted except for essential services such as medical, grocery shopping, and banking among others, according to a government statement.

The Cabinet directed most public and private employees to work from home, with the new measures expected to be reviewed after 15 days.

While inter-districts public transport is restricted, most businesses are closed save those distributing and delivering essential services such as food, medicine, hygiene and cleaning products, and fuel. They are ordered to operate at 30% capacity, and close by 6 p.m. local time (1600 GMT).

Educational institutions and places of worship have also been shut with schools, both public and private, advised to revert to remote learning.

Tourism activities such as hotels, tour operations will continue to work in line with health guidelines.

The Kigali International Airport, the country’s main airport, however, will remain open with arriving travelers required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 120 hours prior to departure.

Designated hotels for arrivals will remain open in accordance with the COVID-19 prevention measures, whereas departing travelers must also present a negative COVID-19 result.

Majority of the new cases in recent days were registered in Kigali with health officials attributing it to complacency in observance of virus control measures.

A landlocked East African country, Rwanda has so far seen 11,259 cases and 146 related deaths. By James Tasamba, Anadolu Agency

Bobi Wine was the main challenger to longtime leader Yoweri Museveni, who won with 58 percent of the votes [Baz Ratner/Reuters]

Uganda’s government accused the United States of trying to “subvert” last week’s presidential elections after the US ambassador attempted to visit opposition leader Bobi Wine, who has been under house arrest.

US Ambassador Natalie E Brown was stopped from visiting Wine at his residence in a suburb in the northern outskirts of the capital, the embassy said in a statement late on Monday. 

What next for Uganda’s opposition after Museveni’s disputed win?

The mission said Brown wanted to check on the “health and safety” of Wine, who became famous after years of singing about government corruption and nepotism, charges the government denies.

The former pop star-turned-legislator, who came second with almost 35 percent votes, rejected the results and accused his rival, President Yoweri Museveni, of winning by fraud. Wine has so far provided no evidence to support his allegations.

The electoral commission, however, on Saturday declared Museveni the winner with 58.6 percent of the vote. Museveni, 76, has been in power since 1986.

‘Meddle in Uganda’s internal politics’

Government spokesman Ofwono Opondo said Brown had no business visiting Wine.

“What she has been trying to do blatantly is to meddle in Uganda’s internal politics, particularly elections, to subvert our elections and the will of the people,” he said.

“She shouldn’t do anything outside the diplomatic norms.”

The sharp, public rebuke to the US from the Ugandan government is relatively unusual as the two nations are allies.

Kristof Tetica, a professor of international development at the University of Antwerp, noted Museveni’s relations with the international community took a turn for the worse since November, when the president blamed anti-government demonstrations on “foreign groups and homosexuals”.

He added donor support from the international community has been crucial to Museveni’s government since the mid-1980s.

“Particularly, the US has been a key ally of Uganda. On average they support Uganda with $970m a year, they’ve given military support. The country is seen as a key source of stability in the region, and that has given Uganda leeway for transgressions like corruption,” Tetica told Al Jazeera.

“So that’s why it’s so surprising relations have become so hostile.”

There was no immediate comment from Brown or the US embassy. Soiurce: Aljazeera

(File) Melania Trump | AFP First Lady Melania Trump, on Monday, released a farewell message ahead of leaving the White House. In the message posted on micro-blogging site Twitter, the First Lady says, “violence is never the answer.”

The message comes weeks after Trump supporters seeking to overturn election results stormed the Capitol building.  

Dressed in a formal shirt, the outgoing First Lady in her farewell speech, made a meeting reference to her husband. In the speech, Melanie Trump also paid tribute to military families, pandemic health workers and those helping victims of opioid abuse.

“As Donald and I conclude our time in the White House, I think of all of the people I have taken home in my heart and their incredible stories of love, patriotism and determination,” the First Lady said. 

“Be passionate in everything you do. But always remember that violence is never the answer, and will never be justified,” she added.

Melanie Trump did not reach out for traditional tea to Joe Biden’s wife, Dr Jill Biden. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise for observers as Trump’s departure from the White House has been anything but smooth.

Trump for months refused to accept the results of the November 2020 elections and has gone on and on in the last few months about election fraud. Trump never even congratulated his successor.

50-year-old Melanie, in her farewell speech, said, “The promise of this nation belongs to all of us who do not lose sight of our integrity and values, use every opportunity to show consideration for another person, and build good habits into our daily lives.”  

Melanie Trump, however, hasn’t received any favourable responses to the video. 

“I’m so beyond thrilled your reign as first lady is toast. Good riddance and don't let the door hit you on the way out,” a user wrote. 

“Finally, class, educated, grace and honour, will be back to the role as First Lady. Someone little girls can emulate. Marrying the rich old guy and posing in salacious photos-nude is despicable. Cue... she speaks, (what are they up to now...) 8 languages,” wrote another user.

“I really don’t care, do you?” wrote author, TV host Andy Cohen.

Yet another user wrote, “How much you guys wanna bet we’re gonna hear about Melania filing for divorce within the year?!” Source: The Week

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