Members of Parliament are in panic after Kiryadongo district Woman Member of parliament Hellen Kahunde tested positive for Covid19. The MP is said to be currently admitted at Mulago Hospital since Tuesday.
Following the news that she has tested positive the Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has revealed that Parliament will begin mass screening for coronavirus for Members of Parliament and staff on Thursday, 16 July 2020.
“Some time back Members of Parliament requested that the Ministry of Health organises mass screening for COVID-19. I am glad to inform you that they have now completed screening the Cabinet and starting tomorrow (Thursday), we shall be able to do screening here,” Kadaga said.
Kadaga said screening will be carried out at Parliament’s medical centre starting with the 459 Members of Parliament and later on staff.
She directed the Clerk to Parliament to ensure that the screening exercise does not generate congestion at the medical centre whose capacity cannot accommodate big numbers.
“We shall have to cluster you because we do not want all of you to be there at the same time. The clerk will organise and communicate to you the appointment
Busongora North County MP, Hon William Nzoghu said that massive screening should be extended to immediate family members of MPs and staff in order to minimise any chances of infection even after screening.
“Members and staff of Parliament come from families; they interact with people who can infect them even after testing. I wonder if there is a way screening can be extended to our families,” said Nzoghu
Kadaga said that such an arrangement would require further discussion with the Ministry of Health adding that, ‘for now, I will start with my immediate constituents; MPs and staff. I am going to talk to the Ministry of Health on what can be done for our family members’.
Uganda currently has 1,043 cases of coronavirus.