KAMPALA – Speaker of Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga has tasked the Ministry of Health to explain to the nation where Government will acquire the funds to procure and supply masks to all Ugandans above 6years.
On Monday, President Yoweri Museveni announced that Government would embark on issuing of masks to about 34million Ugandans within two weeks as the country relaxes lockdown measures put in place to contain the spread of Coronavirus.
While issuing a statement to Parliament to explain how the measure will be conducted, Joyce Moriku, the State Minister for Health told Parliament that Government will follow formal procedure for award of contract to all manufacturing companies that have the capacity to produce the required facemasks according to the laws of this country.
She explained, “The available capacity assured by Uganda Manufacturers Association members engaged in textile is 800,000 per day. There is also proposal to mobilize other small scale producers under Kampala Capital City Authority and other Local Governments.”
Minister Motiku added that the Ministry is in the process of procuring facemasks for the public and has given guidelines on the standard of the mask to be used.
“However, in the interim, we engage those who can make as per the standard guideline or procure privately to do so.
However, the Speaker wondered where the money to procure facemasks for all Ugandans is coming from and whether Parliament approved the funds and tasked the Minister of Health to provide an explanation of the source of the said funds.
The Speaker said, “I just want to know how much money you’re going to use to buy masks for Ugandans, secondly, did we budget for it. Did we budget for these masks?”
James Baba while reacting to the Minister’s statement pointed out that Government failed to give Ugandans a clear indication of how the 42 million masks will be availed to all everyone in the two weeks. “Hon Moriku should come clear on the guidelines of distribution of masks.”
