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The Speaker’s procession makes its way from the Deputy Speaker’s chambers to the House
The Deputy Speaker, Anita Among has reiterated her earlier position that Parliament will not allow MPs, staff and visitors who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 to access the precincts.
Chairing the sitting of the House on 02 November 2021, Anita Among said that Members of Parliament need to lead by example and get vaccinated for COVID-19.
This follows her communication on 28 October 2021 that entry into Parliament will be premised on presentation of Covid-19 vaccination certificates.
“We need to be an example to the rest of the country because we want people to be vaccinated and where there is a shortage in vaccines, we shall consult the government,” she said.
The Deputy Speaker told the MPs that much as the Clerk to Parliament issued a letter re-emphasizing the communication about getting vaccinated, some people had not heeded to the directive.
“Today, we had to stop someone from accessing my chambers without proof of vaccination. As Parliament, we should walk the talk,” she added.
Among told the MPs that their actions as leaders will go a long way in influencing the people they govern.
“Voters listen to their Members of Parliament and that makes you the best people to spearhead this campaign for people out there to get vaccinated,” she said.
Among expressed r gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Attorney General’s Chambers for implementing the directive to get vaccinated adding that,
Following her directive last week, some politicians and members of the public said it was unfair to force them to take the vaccines.
The Attorney General has since come out to defend the decision of the Deputy Speaker saying that this action is meant to protect the population from getting infected.
The National Medical Stores banned its unvaccinated staff and visitors from accessing their offices.
The National Drug Authority has since followed suit with the same directive.
Parliament’s directive follows a call by President Yoweri Museveni for more Ugandans to take on the vaccines. During his last address, the President indicated that the country would be opened up fully if more Ugandans were vaccinated.