Bugweri County Member of Parliament (MP), Abdu Katuntu has been appointed the chairperson of the parliamentary COVID-19 taskforce.
In the appointment made by the office of the Speaker of Parliament, Dan Kimosho, the Kazo County MP, was appointed his deputy.
“I am glad to have been appointed by the Office of the Speaker as Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary COVID-19 taskforce today. I will deputise senior legislator Honorable Abdu Katuntu,” Kimosho tweeted on Tuesday.
While addressing the press today on the COVID-19 situation, the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among, also announced the appointment of regional task forces headed by MPs who are medical doctors by training to support the Executive in the fight against the pandemic.
Among also has dismissed rumours that the Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah, was ill. ‘We agreed with the Speaker that each of us should work for two months and I started. After my two months, I will also go and rest and the Speaker will come.’
The Deputy Speaker also clarified that Parliament has not been closed, but they asked legislators to stay away for two weeks to allow its fumigation. She said if the need arises, she will call the MPs to convene.
This was after the opposition agreed with the Parliament leadership to conduct business via digital platforms for two weeks to allow fumigation of the August House as a way of averting the spread of COVID-19.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) acting president, John Baptist Nambeshe, who is also the opposition chief whip, earlier today said the agreement followed discussions with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament (Among).
“Following a discussion with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Anita Among, it was agreed that Parliament business be conducted through digital platforms for two weeks starting Monday, June 28 to give room for fumigation in the containment of the Coronavirus,” Nambeshe tweeted on Tuesday.
Despite the COVID-19 deaths being registered, several Ugandans are recovering from the virus. A total of 1,373 people have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three consecutive days, data from the health ministry show.
Records released on Tuesday show that 522 patients have recovered. This is in addition to 512 recoveries reported on Monday and 339 recoveries reported on Sunday. The cumulative total recoveries are 52,382.
“Results of COVID-19 tests done on June 27, 2021, confirm 345 new cases. The cumulative confirmed cases are 79,434,” according to a statement from the health ministry.
A total of 33 new deaths were recorded, bringing the total number of deaths to 989, ever since the pandemic broke out in March 2020.
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