By Glad Kigozi
In a bid to curb further spread of Covid- 19, the government of Uganda embarked on the immunization exercise to minimize the death rate and severe disease, However some locals have shunned this exercise.
While addressing the nation last week about the health situation in the country, President Yoweri Museveni said the National Task Force on Covid – 19, had reviewed the current situation in the country and made recommendations aimed at avoiding a resurgence and flare up of infections. These he said must be adopted for implementation with immediate effect.
Among those new restrictions include, having a vaccination certificate with evidence of up_ to _ date boosting in order to be allowed entry into formal meetings and public places . These he said include religious gatherings, Local council meetings and other social meetings, Where there is no up- to _date vaccination certificate, a negative PCR test within 24 hours must be presented to be allowed access.
Health Activists in the country have commented on the Presidential directive.
The Initiative for Social and Economic Rights (ISER) Program officer for Participation and Social Mobilisation program Ms Nassozi Rehema Ssozi says;
The freedom of expression and assembly are suppressed in case of a pandemic. so the Presidential directive is necessary because the State has an obligation to protect the life of it’s citizens from danger.
“It’s not feasible because the government has no capacity to implement the directive without causing chaos, It requires a digital system that reads bar codes to be efficient and effective because a number of revelers cannot carry their cards”, said Nassozi.
The Executive Director of Foundation for Human Rights Initiative (FHRI) Dr Livingstone Ssewanyana said the directive sounded like it was an immediate demand yet local people who have not vaccinated need to know where the vaccination centers are so that they can go for vaccination in order to access services.
In his address the President directed the Health ministry to relaunch the vaccination exercise and ensure more people are vaccinated.
The President said the vaccination coverage is below the country’s target of 28.5 million people.
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