IN SHORT: Uganda’s long-term ruler contracted Covid-19, but claims that a popular Kenyan TV station reported of his worsening condition are false.
On 7 June 2023, Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni tested positive for Covid-19, leading him to isolate himself and go on forced leave.
He handed over his duties to prime minister Robinah Nabbanja.
In relation to this, a screenshot of a tweet apparently posted by Kenya’s private Citizen TV started circulating on social media.
The screenshot reads: “Ugandan president Kaguta Museveni admitted in ICU over his deteriorating health. His son, general Muhoozi calls for a family meeting.”
The tweet is accompanied by a photo of Museveni, who has been in power since 1986. It has been viewed over 30,000 times.
A screenshot of the post also found its way onto Facebook and was posted here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
But did Kenya's most watched TV station post the tweet? We checked.
Signs the tweet wasn’t posted by Citizen TV
The TV station's original Twitter account is @citizentvkenya. It has 5.3 million followers and is verified.
This tweet does not appear on the account’s timeline.
The account that posted the tweet uses the handle @CitizenkenyaTV and has only 1,115 followers. It has a description that reads: “FAN ACCOUNT. Official unofficial account.”
On 13 June 2023, deputy press secretary to the Ugandan president, Faruk Kirunda dismissed the information as fake.
“Please, ignore this fake and malicious news! The work of sadists. H.E the President is in good condition. Thank you! FK,” he wrote.
Museveni also denied the claims in a statement posted on his official verified Twitter account.
Part of his statement reads: “I also noticed some few individuals from, I think, Kenya, saying that I was in ICU etc. If I was in ICU, the government would inform the country. What is there to hide? However, I have not been to bed as a sick man in the house here except for sleeping, let alone being in a hospital bed, whether ICU or otherwise.”
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