Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni is on a “ginger treatment” after losing his voice and having a coronavirus scare that saw him seek medical intervention.

The 75-year-old leader revealed this in his most detailed public comment yet on his health at an event to receive his party’s nomination ticket to seek reelection in the 2021 presidential polls.

“I apologise for my voice. I had long meetings and when I lost my voice my first thought was Covid-19,” Mr Museveni told the National Resistance Movement (NRM) delegates at the party’s headquarters on Tuesday.

“On Sunday morning I called my doctors, they took samples and in the evening they returned and there was no corona. Yesterday (Monday) I attended Cabinet briefly and rested, I am taking ginger and I hope it will recover,” he added.

Mr Museveni is running unopposed for NRM chairman and party flagbearer for the February elections, which if he wins the reelection bid will see him extend his rule to four decades.

Uganda has reported more than 1,100 coronavirus cases with two deaths. The victims are women aged 34 and 80 from eastern Namisindwa district and Kampala respectively.