Parliament of Uganda to close for two weeks over COVID-19 cases spike

Parliament of Uganda to close for two weeks over COVID-19 cases spike
Parliament of Uganda main entrance

Kampala, Uganda | URN | The Parliament of Uganda will, starting next week, close for two weeks following an upsurge in COVID-19 cases among Members of Parliament, their support staff, and other parliamentary workers.

On Monday 21, June 2021, at least 17 newly appointed ministers missed taking oath at Kololo due to either being indisposed themselves, self-isolating after being in contact with COVID-19 victims, or losing relatives to the pandemic.

Uganda has been registering an unprecedented number of COVID-19 deaths and new cases during the ongoing second wave which necessitated President Museveni to lockdown the country again for 42 days

In a letter by the clerk to parliament Henry Waiswa Yoweri sent out to all MPs on Tuesday 22, June 2021, no MP will be allowed in the precincts of parliament between June 28 and July 11.

Below is the slightly abridged letter by Yoweri to the MPs

You will recall that the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament adjourned the House sine die on Monday, 14th June 2021. Parliament of Uganda like the rest of the country has been affected by the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic with a positivity rate of 17.1%.

Read Also: Speaker Jacob Oulanyah working from home, he is not ill – Parliament

As a mitigating measure in the prevention of the COVID-19 infection, the administration of parliament in consultation with the office of the speaker is closing parliament to Hon. Members of Parliament for a period of two weeks in order to disinfect the parliamentary buildings.

This notice will take effect from Monday 28th June, 2021 to Sunday 11th July, 2021. Members are advised to adhere to this instructions.

Signed by Henry Waiswa Yoweri the Clerk to Parliament.