MPs weep over forced COVID-19 jabs
MPs are reportedly weeping after they were forced to take COVID-19 jabs. This comes after Uganda’s Parliament announced no-access policy for all unvaccinated members, staff, and visitors effective today, the act that left many in tears.
In an October 29 letter addressed to all the 529 Members of Parliament (MPs), staff and the public, Mr Henry Yoweri Waiswa, the deputy clerk to Parliament, said the move is to ramp up uptake of Covid-19 vaccines in line with a presidential guidance.
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In an address last Thursday, President Museveni rallied Ugandans to take the shots and tied the planning full reopening of the country from the residual lockdown only if 5.8 million citizens are inoculated.
The overall government target is for 21.9 million Ugandans to receive the vaccines, but as of October 27, data from the World Health Organisation showed that only 3.27 million Ugandans had been vaccinated, with only 415,000, or 0.9 percent of the population, double jabbed.
“The Office of the Speaker [of Parliament] is in agreement with the President’s observation and in the communication of the Rt Hon Deputy Speaker (Anita Among) at the sitting of Parliament on Thursday, October 28, 2021, she gave a directive that access to the precincts of Parliament should be restricted to only Members of Parliament, staff and visitors that will show proof of vaccination against Covid-19,” Mr Waiswa noted in his letter.
He added: “Honourable Members and staff, in line with the Rt Hon Deputy Speaker’s directive, therefore, you are hereby informed that with effect from Monday, November 1, 2021 (today), access to the parliamentary precincts will be restricted to ONLY those that have been vaccinated against Covid-19. By copy of this letter, the Sergeant-at-Arms is directed to work with the Division Police Commander – Parliamentary Police, to enforce these guidelines.”
The decree was met with disapproval, with sections of lawmakers categorising it as “a bad” decision.
The Opposition Chief Whip, Mr John Baptist Nambeshe, said the decision may attract legal action if Parliament enforces it starting today.
Majority Ugandans are not vaccinated because of vaccine shortage and outreach limitations, he argued, adding that denying them access to a House of their elected representative is highhanded, undemocratic and uncalled for.
“If they go ahead to implement this decision, they may face legal actions because how do you bar people from accessing Parliament because they have not been vaccinated? Secondly, why should you force people to be vaccinated without their consent?” he said.
Parliament would not be the first government agency to bar unvaccinated individuals from accessing workplaces. The National Medical Stores, which imports, stores and distributes the Covid vaccines nationwide, a fortnight ago adopted the no jab, no access policy for staff and guests followed by the Ministry of Health, the political overseer of the vaccination access.