Parliament sends MPs to villages to fight Covid-19

Parliament has appointed representatives who will spearhead the fight against  the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. 
The Deputy Speaker, Ms Anita Among, yesterday revealed the representatives during a press conference at Parliament . 
“I have appointed representatives of Parliament to the National Taskforce. They will coordinate responses with those of the government including overseeing the intervention of the regional parliamentary taskforce team,” Ms Among said.

 She added: “The Parliamentary Covid-19 task force shall be composed of regional teams who will oversee the Covid-19 response in the specific regions including northern, eastern, central, and western.” 
Some of the representatives  include Dr Micheal Bukenya (Bukuya County MP), Mr Abdu Katuntu (Bugweri County MP), Dr Joseph Ruyonga (Hoima West Division), Dr Elisa Rutahigwa (Rukungiri Municipality MP), Dr Samuel Opio Acuti (Kole North County), and  Ms Anne Ebaju Adeke, (Soroti District Woman MP), among others.

“We are blessed to have many doctors (in Parliament) who  will take lead to ensure that the right medical interventions are being implemented. Also, the lawyers will help us get the legal interpretation of what is being done,” Ms Among said.

The team, which constitutes of more than 40 Members of Parliament (MPs), will perform various tasks including making inquiries into and report government preparedness and response to Covid-19, assessing the health impact of Covid-19 in the community and country at large.
 The team will also assess the role of the private sector health care providers  and use different media to continuously sensitise the masses to follow  the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). 
 
“The regional task force teams shall execute the assignments and report to Parliament within two weeks effective from  June 29,” the deputy Speaker revealed. 
Although there is no special fund designated for this Covid-19 response work, Ms Among said there is an internal budget to cater for specific expenses. 
“If someone (an MP) is travelling out of town for official duty, Parliament accommodates  and provides for  them transport and lunch. But, in regards to the question whether there is specific funding for this project, it is not there. We don’t want to take advantage of the situation, ” she noted. 

The Deputy Speaker revealed that Parliament has approved Shs1.08 trillion to support Covid-19 response. 
She also disregarded rumour that Parliament was closed. 
“We have not closed Parliament. What happened is that the administration of Parliament realised that so many people were infected and decided to fumigate this place for two weeks. But, you are aware that the law allows us to proclaim any place to be a premise of Parliament, so where there is need, we can sit anywhere, even Kololo (Independence grounds),” she said. 

 As regards the rumour on the continued absence of the Speaker, Mr Jacob Oulanyah, she said: “We have a working calendar and each of us agreed to work for two months. I started working and when my turn is finished, the Speaker will come. The Speaker is okay.” 

LIST OF REPRESENTATIVES

National task force
Abdu Katuntu, Bugweri County MP (heading the team)
Dan Atwijukire, Kazo Constituency MP (deputising)
Agnes Kunihira, workers’ representative
Bernard Odoi, Youth MP for Eastern region
Anne Ebaju Adeke, Soroti District Woman MP
Dickson Kateshumbwa, Sheema Municipality MP
Regional task force coordinators 
Dr Micheal Bukenya, Bukuya County MP (heading the team)
Mr Charles Ayume, Koboko Municipality MP  (deputising)
Western region
Dr Joseph Ruyonga, Hoima West Division MP
Dr Elisa Rutahigwa, Rukungiri Municipality MP
Dan Atwijukire, Kazo Constituency MP 
Josephine Bebona Babungi, Woman MP Bundibugyo District 
Florence Asiimwe, Woman MP  Masindi District
Dr Nicholas Kamara, MP Kabale Municipality 
Francis Mwijukye, Buhweju county MP
Asinansi Nyakato, Woman MP  Hoima District 
Northern region
Mr Charles Ayume, Koboko Municipality MP
Dr Samuel Opio Acuti, Kole North County

Dr George Didi Bhoka, Obongi Constituency MP
Ms Lillian Aber, Kitgum Woman MP
Mr Charles Onen, Gulu East MP 
Jonathan Odur, Erute County South MP
Mr Martin Ojara Mapenduzi, Gulu West MP
Faith Loru Nakut, Woman MP for Napak 
Mr Emmanuel Ongiertho, Jonam County MP 
Norman Ochero, Labwor County MP
Eastern team. 
Dr Emmanuel Otala, 
Mr Patrick Mutono, Butebo County MP
Mr Timothy Batuwa, Jinja West MP
Mr Jonathan Ebwalu, Soroti City West MP
Mr Pamela Kamugo, Budaka County Woman MP
Mr John Baptist Nambeshe, Manyiya MP
Central region: 
Mr Joseph Ssewungu, Kalungu West MP
David Kabanda, Kasambya County MP 
Hope Grania Nakazibwe, Woman MP Mubende District 
Pauline Kemirembe, Woman MP Lyantonde District 
Fortunate Rose Nantongo, Woman MP for Kyotera District 
Micheal Kakembo, Entebbe Municipality MP