A 40-member task force
that will oversee the country's COVID-19 interventions has been unveiled.
The task force which has been established at the national and regional level
was unveiled on Tuesday by the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Annet 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 task force 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 task force headed by Dr Michael Bukenya for Central
Regional, Dr Charles Ayume for Northern Uganda, Joseph Ruyonga for Western
Uganda and the East will be headed by Dr Emmanuel Otala. 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.
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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.
Alex Otto
Freelancer