VIDEO: MP Simon Oyet Concerned about Continued Parliament Sitting

Member of Parliament for Nwoya County, Simon Oyet has expressed fear over the continuous plenary business amidst rapid spread of COVID-19 worldwide.

Oyet told ChimpReports on Tuesday that they as legislators cannot run away from their constitutional duty of processing and appropriating budget which is also legally bound.

“I am personally scared but we cannot abandon our constitutional duty as MPs mandated to appropriate budget,” said Oyet.

The legislator noted that their continuous stay at Parliament is equivalent to that of medical workers battling the heavily contagious epidemic declared by World Health Organization as pandemic.

He also talked about his colleagues and some staff who returned from high risk countries, dodged quarantine and headed straight to Parliament.

Confusion engulfed Parliament on Tuesday when the Speaker Rebecca announced that three legislators from the Physical Infrastructure committee and two staffs, who travelled through Dubai last week, should not be allowed access to Parliament. Members including Ssekitoleko Kafeero of Nakifuma county (Mukono), Lwengo woman MP Namujju Cissy and Ssempala Kigozi of Makindye Sabagabo municipality and their staff members had however already accessed Parliament since last week and freely greeted colleagues and also used the canteen.

Another member from a high risk country is James Kakooza from Kabula county, who also appeared at Parliament on Monday. Kakooza is a member of Pan African Parliament, who were in Midrand, South Africa and only returned last week.

Health Minister, Dr. Jane Aceng while announcing eight more cases on Monday at midnight, warned that everyone who has been to or travelled through Dubai should be immediately contact the ministry.

“I am calling everyone who travelled from or passed through Dubai within the last two weeks to report to us,” said Aceng.