MPs threaten to boycott Museveni events over COVID tests

Speaker Anita Among promises to speak to President Museveni's security to drop the mandatory COVID tests and taking away of phones

PARLIAMENT | A section of legislators have expressed their frustrations with taking COVID-19 tests before attending events presided over by President Museveni.

The legislators, led by Kalungu West MP Joseph Ssewungu say most of them choose to stay away from events where Mr Museveni is present to avoid enduring the swabs in their nostrils.

“Madaam Speaker, I am not comfortable as Ssewungu and many others this side, being checked by SFC [Special Forces Command] for COVID tests and our gadgets," Ssewungu said in a jumbled speech as he complained about "pluck my nose" and iPads and phones being confiscated by security.

The Kalunu West MPs' complaint followed Speaker Anita Among's communication that President Museveni will grace the closure of the second session and opening of the third session of the 11th Parliament in May and June.

Ssewungu and other legislators threatened to boycott the two events, the State of the Nation Address, and the National Budget Reading.

But Speaker Among promised to hold talks with Special Forces Command (SFC), the elite force offerings security to the Presidency, to end the practice of confiscating phones and iPads of MPs, and also end compulsory COVID tests for MPs whenever they are meeting President Museveni.

COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc in the world between 2020 and 2022. Although it is no longer a threat, Mr Museveni wears face mask whenever he is meeting people.

The President's visitors are also subjected to mandatory COVID-19 tests. It is understood Mr Museveni keeps his guard up because as recently as last December, his wife Janet tested positive for the virus that is said to have largely mutated to a weaker variant.