By Spy Uganda
The Speaker of Parliament Rt. Hon. Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga has asked government to consider giving Ugandans, especially the business community, Private Sector and all Stakeholders a relief package to help them overcome the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, especially on the economy and their livelihoods.
Hon. Kadaga tabled the proposal during the Parliamentary sitting on Tuesday March 5th, 2020, after which she posted the same on her Facebook and other social media Platforms.
In her own words, the Speaker told Parliament thus;
“I also urge Parliament to take an interest on the economic impact of the Covid19 pandemic to Uganda. Businesses have collapsed; the tourism industry is almost obliterated. We should look at the possibility for a rescue package.
The Committee on National Economy should invite the private sector and other key stakeholders so we tackle this matter and find solutions.”
She added that “On the business before Parliament today: the motion on Moroto Municipality has been overtaken by events. We created a city last week so there’s no need of altering the boundaries of the municipality now. On Ishaka and Kapchorwa Municipality – the municipalities were already created and what they want to do is to alter the boundaries of the district. So these two motions are not properly before this House and should come as alteration of boundaries of the districts.”
It should be noted that Kadaga’s proposal to government to rescues the business community by giving them a ‘COVID-19 Relief Package’ comes at a time when Members of Parliament are under fire for sharing Shs10Bn to purportedly help them in the fight against COVID-19.
Following the public outcry that emanated after Ugandans learnt that MPs had shared the Shs10Bn COVID-19 cash, President Yoweri Museveni and the High Court directed that the MPs should either return the money or donate it to their respective COVID-19 District Task Forces.
Several MPs have already either returned the money to the District Task Forces or the Parliamentary, whereas many others had already spent it and these ones have queries to answer with the office of the Auditor General.
