The Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has reechoed the need for government to open different sectors still under lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
She made the call during plenary on Tuesday afternoon as Parliament resumed business after a two weeks’ recess.
In her communication to the house, Kadaga noted that her office has continued receiving petitions from different Ugandans whose businesses are still under lockdown.
President Yoweri Museveni announced a nationwide lockdown in March this year to contain the spread of Covid-19.
The president has since eased the lock down and reopened different sectors of the economy such as the public transport, arcades, malls and beauty salons among others.
However, some sectors like Education, Sports, Entertainment industry and places of worship remain closed.
On Tuesday, several legislators took to the floor of parliament following the Speaker’s statement and asked government to fully reopen the economy and intensify sensitization on the implementation of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
Kawempe North MP, Latif Ssebaggala said general merchandise traders in places like Owino Market have remained under lockdown without any assistance from government.
Dokolo Woman MP, Cecilia Ogwal also wondered why places of worship are still locked yet some politicians have been seen convening political meetings there.
She demanded that government immediately considers reopening places of worship to allow Ugandans worship God and nourish their spirits.
The Government Chief Whip, Ruth Nankabirwa revealed that the National Covid-19 Task Force is scheduled to sit with the president on Wednesday to discuss some of the issues raised.
She however, expressed concern about some of the challenges the country is facing such as the soaring numbers of Covid-19 positive cases and deaths.
Uganda has so far registered 2,426 Covid-19 positive cases, 1,267 recoveries and 25 deaths.
By URN
