Opposition Leader Protests Mandatory Covid-19 Testing for MPs Meeting President Museveni

Afaf Fahchouch
Afaf Fahchouch
3 Min Read
Covid-19

The Leader of the Opposition, Mathias Mpuuga, has expressed strong objections to the mandatory Covid-19 testing required for MPs to meet President Museveni. Mpuuga argues that this measure is unnecessary since the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an end to the global health emergency posed by Covid-19. He firmly believes that testing for the virus should not be a prerequisite for interacting with the head of state in any gathering.

In a statement, Mpuuga emphasized that subjecting MPs to Covid-19 tests as a requirement to meet President Museveni is a waste of public resources. He accused the president of squandering public funds on Covid-19 tests carried out by specific companies associated with individuals close to the regime, both during private gatherings at his home and in other parts of the country.

Mpuuga made these remarks as MPs prepared to attend the State of the Nation address at Kololo. The event is expected to attract a large audience of at least 20,000 people, including MPs, government officials, diplomats, security officers, journalists, and dignitaries. Mpuuga claimed that organizing this event alone would cost Ugandan taxpayers approximately Shs 3 billion.

Calls for Cost Reduction and Health Measures in Government’s Covid-19 Approach

Highlighting the exorbitant costs of Covid-19 testing, which amount to billions of shillings, Mpuuga criticized the government’s disregard for the rights of those subjected to these tests. To alleviate the burden on taxpayers during these challenging economic times, he proposed that President Museveni and his family receive Covid-19 booster doses to strengthen their immunity, in line with the WHO’s recommendations. This, he argued, would alleviate their concerns about the virus and its potential threat to their lives.

Mpuuga also advised President Museveni to increase the social distance he maintains while meeting people across the country, as recommended by the WHO. Furthermore, he suggested that the president consider utilizing technology, such as Zoom, to conduct meetings instead of physical interactions, as was done during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Concluding his stance, Mpuuga announced that the Shadow Cabinet had unanimously resolved that subjecting individuals to expensive Covid-19 tests solely to meet President Museveni is an abuse and should be discontinued. He also urged members of the Opposition not to undergo these tests, standing in solidarity against what they perceived as an unnecessary and costly measure.

Afaf Al Fahchouch

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