A majority of people who died in Uganda after contracting the coronavirus all had a similar underlying condition, the country's Ministry of Health said on Monday.

The ministry said more than three-quarters of the COVID-19 deaths registered had presented high blood pressure or hypertension as an underlying condition.

"8 out of 10 of the COVID-19 deaths in Uganda presented with high blood pressure as an underlying condition," the ministry tweeted.

According to the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.), people with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer, and older people are more likely to develop serious illness after infection.

Africa has the highest prevalence of hypertension at 27 percent. However, the condition's prevalence varies across continents and country income groups.

Risk factors for high blood pressure include: unhealthy diets (excessive salt consumption, a diet high in saturated fat and trans fats, low intake of fruits and vegetables), physical inactivity, consumption of tobacco and alcohol, and being overweight or obese.

In light of the finding, the ministry advised residents to go for regular medical check ups to know their health status and also follow the laid out COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Also, on Monday, the ministry announced 101 new confirmed coronavirus cases taking the nationwide total to 10,691. The total numbers of recoveries and deaths remained at 6,992 and 97 respectively as no new figures were reported.

(With input from agencies)