Opposition Leader Protests Testing for COVID-19 before Attending Functions with President Museveni

The Leader of Opposition in Uganda’s Parliament, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga has protested the continual subjecting of officials to COVID-19 testing in order to attend functions officiated by  Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic Of Uganda.

In a statement issued on Wednesday 7 June 2023, Mpuuga, who is also the current Member of Parliament representing Nyendo – Mukungwe Division and Deputy President of the National Unity Platform (NUP) Political party claimed that despite the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency, Uganda’s President continue to Subject people to the Covid-19 tests for the sole purpose of meeting him.

Mpuuga also described the act as an abuse of the rights of those subjected to these tests and wastage of Public resources.

HERE IS THE FULL STATEMENT

7th June 2022

TESTING FOR COVID-19 TO MEET MUSEVENI IS A WASTAGE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES

The World Health Organization (WHO) declared an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency.

However, Gen. Museveni continues to waste public resources to specific companies owned by individuals close to the regime on COVID tests whenever he meets people both at his home and other parts of the country.

The state of the Nation address at Kololo this afternoon is expected to attract at least 20,000 people including MPs, heads of government agencies and departments, diplomats, security officers, journalists and waiters among others will cost Uganda’s taxpayer about shs 3bn.

Another event of the Budget Speech which is expected next week is also expected to cost the taxpayer another shs 3bn in covid tests.

Whereas this is an abuse of the rights of those subjected to these tests, we are more concerned about the high cost of testing for covid-19 in billions every year.

To save taxpayers’ money in these economic hard times, the shadow cabinet therefore suggests that;

1. Gen. Museveni and his family should take Covid-19 booster doses to boost their immunity as recommended by the World Health Organization to lessen their anxiety over the covid-19 threat to their lives

2. Gen. Museveni should also increase the social distance he observes while meeting people in the country as recommended by WHO.

3. Gen. Museveni should make the decision to not meet people physically and instead use technology (zoom) as he did during the covid-19 pandemic.

The Shadow Cabinet has therefore resolved that Subjecting people to the costly Covid-19 tests for the sole purpose of meeting Mr. Museveni is an abuse and must stop.

Accordingly we advise Members of the Opposition not to take these tests and to stay away from SONA 2023 and the Budget Speech.

Mpuuga Mathias (MP)

LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION.