Parliament sets up taskforce to oversee Covid-19 interventions

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A 40 member taskforce that will oversee the country’s COVID-19 interventions has been unveiled.

The taskforce which has been established at the national and regional level was unveiled on Tuesday by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Anita Among in a press conference at Parliament. The committee will inquire about the government’s preparedness and response to COVID-19, assess the health impacts of COVID-19, assess the operation, administration, and management of funds and other resources appropriated.

They will also assess the state of health facilities, conduct awareness sensitization countrywide and at the end submit a report to Parliament.

According to Anita Among, Parliament’s Covid-19 taskforce will be headed by Bugweri County MP Abdul Katuntu and assisted by other five MPs, Dan Atwijukire, Agnes Kunihira, Bernard Odoi, Anna Adeke and Dickson Kateshumbwa. These will represent parliament to the national task force and also coordinate the overall interventions of the regional parliamentary task force teams.

A four-member regional parliamentary taskforce headed by Dr Michael Bukenya for Central region, Dr Charles Ayume for Northern Uganda, Joseph Ruyonga for Western Uganda and the East will be headed by Dr Emmanuel Otala has been established. Bukenya will be the overall head of the regional task force.

Among says that the teams will work for two weeks, and will also engage, assess the role of the private health players.

Asked about the cost of the 40 MPs, Among said that the budget is already catered for. She also said that no cash will be given to the MPs.

Among also says that parliament will conduct its sittings when there is a need to do so.  She says that parliament buildings were closed for two weeks to allow fumigation.

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