The four Korean Taekwondo trainers who have been in Uganda since July have abandoned coaching because of fear of the Ebola virus outbreak in some parts of Uganda.
Simon Peter Komakech, Secretary Uganda Tae-kwon-do Federation (UTF) told Uganda Radio Network this morning that the Korean experts decided to stop coaching last Friday because of fear of the Ebola disease.
Last week the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the deadly Ebola hemorrhagic fever had broken out and 14 people had so far died.
Ebola virus is highly contagious and causes a range of symptoms including fever, vomiting, diarrhea, generalized pain or malaise and in many cases internal and external bleeding.
Komakech explained that the Ebola issue is being taken seriously and the Korean experts decided not to take chances. The four trainers sent by the World Tae-kwon-do Federation (WTF) were meant to be in Uganda for one month under the invitation of UTF President Rogers Hans Ddungu.
Ddungu who was then President of the Uganda Olympic Committee (UOC) before being thrown out two months ago and banned last year through the world body requested for assistance to send trainers who could help to improve the level of the game. However, when the experts arrived last month they were almost chased from Comfort Hotel when the Federation was running out of resources as Ddungu was nowhere to be seen.
Komakech explained that since tae-kwon-do is a highly contact sport and there could easily be bleeding as well in-case of injury, the Koreans and UTF found it wise to suspend the training which has been going on at the Prisons, Luzira.
The four trainers include; Lee Yeongmin, Jeon Hyejeong, Yujin Jung and Moon Myounggyun.
