Covid-19: Parliament to Reopen Next Week

Parliament will reopen next week, two weeks after it was closed as the country battled the second wave of Covid-19.

According to a communication addressed to members of parliament by Henry Waiswa, the Deputy Clerk to Parliament in charge of Corporate Affairs, the closure was to enable the parliamentary building to be disinfected.

In a letter dated July 6 and addressed to MPs, by Jane Kibirige, the Clerk to Parliament, the house will resume on July 13 to constitute committees.

In the communication, Kibirige has also advised MPs to carry their National Identity cards to ease accessibility through the roads of Parliament.

“You will recall that at the close of the 5th sitting of Parliament held on Monday 14th June 2021, the Right Honorable Speaker adjourned the House sine die, I am directed to inform you that Parliament will have plenary sitting on Tuesday 13th July 2021 at 2:00 pm to consider the constitution of committees,” Kibirige said.

Although Parliament said it would close to fumigate, MPs and some staff and journalists have been accessing Parliament.

Over 10 press conferences have been held with the MPs mainly talking about the cash relief to the vulnerable and the COVID-19 intervention measures.

Last week several MPs including those of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) and the opposition called for Parliament to reopen to deliberate on the government’s Covid-19 interventions.

However, the Government Chief whip Thomas Tayebwa said that there is no need to open Parliament in the wake of the pandemic.