The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has
blocked three legislators from accessing parliament and referred them to
institutional quarantine following their travel to Dubai in United Emirates.
They
are the Physical Infrastructure Committee
Chairperson, Robert Kafeero Ssekitoleko, Lwengo Woman MP, Cissy Namujju and her
Makindye –Ssabagabo Municipality counterpart, Emmanuel Ssempala Kigozi.
The MPs
returned to Uganda on March 16th, 2020 and have reportedly been
under self-quarantine. Also
affected are Adrine Natukunda and Agatha
Akankunda, both parliamentary staff who traveled with the legislators.
Kadaga
has also asked MPs to name their colleagues who travelled to high risk corona
virus countries for appropriate action.
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The Kasilo County MP, Elijah Okupa, says there are several
legislators who traveled and returned on Monday last week but are seen moving
freely around the precincts of Parliament.
He mentioned James Kakooza, the
Kabula County MP who traveled for business recently.
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Zaitun Driwaru, the Yumbe Woman Member
of parliament asked the Speaker to ensure that all MPs who travelled and
returned recently are placed under institutional quarantine, saying they have
exposed other people’s lives to risk.
The Speaker also instituted an oversight
committee to help the Health Ministry amidst the challenges of containing the
corona virus. The
team comprises Dr. Michael Bukenya, Dr. Sam
Lyomoki, Fred Baseke, and Beatrice Rwakimari, the Ntungamo Woman MP.
The team
will also help follow up on MPs who dodged institutional quarantine and ensure
they are not in the public. There have been concerns about some MPs and top
Government officials passing through Entebbe International Airport without
screening and avoiding the mandatory 14 days quarantine.