President Museveni, who has gone to great lengths over the last two years to avoid contracting the coronavirus, is currently unsure of his health status after one of the tests turned out positive.
Museveni said he was “feeling a cold” on Wednesday morning and “thought I had a coronavirus.”
The President, who was delivering a state-of-the-nation address at Kololo ceremonial grounds, said he decided to “call my medical team” as a precautionary measure.
The doctors conducted two types of COVID-19 tests.
The 78-year-old Ugandan leader said the rapid test used to screen for COVID-19 infection when experiencing typical COVID-19 symptoms such as runny nose, headaches, general weakness, sore throat, and chest pain, among others, was negative.
He, however, took two PCR tests, with one turning out positive and the other negative.
“I am a suspect of coronavirus,” said Museveni in his last remarks after addressing the nation.
PCR tests are the “gold standard” for COVID-19 tests. They are a type of nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), which is more likely to detect the virus than antigen (rapid) tests.
The difference between the two types of tests is that rapid tests can’t detect small amounts of the virus or asymptomatic cases as accurately as the PCR test can.
Medical experts say a false-negative test can happen if one has a very low viral load.
A viral load represents the amount of the virus in any given testing sample, like a nasopharyngeal swab.
Someone may have a very low viral load in the first couple of days after they’ve become infected.
However, false positives are also uncommon in PCR tests.
Museveni said he decided not to move with First Lady Janet Museveni in a single car to Kololo.
“That’s why I came in separate cars with Mama,” said Museveni, who has just returned from Kyankwanzi where he attended a 10-day retreat with NRM lawmakers.
“I said use your car… I have kept my distance here. We shall sort out that issue.”
The president, who read a three-hour speech, did not appear to be in a worrying condition.
