Lawmakers Abdu Katuntu and Dan Kimosho have been appointed to head parliamentary COVID-19 taskforce as Chairperson and Deputy chairperson respectively.
Katuntu is the MP for Bugweri County while Kimosho represents Kazo County.
The appointments were made by the office of the Speaker of Parliament presided by the deputy Speaker Rt Hon Anita Among.
“I am glad to have been appointed by the Office of the Speaker as Deputy Chairperson of the Parliamentary COVID-19 taskforce today. I will deputise senior legislator Honorable Abdu Katuntu,” Kimosho tweeted on Tuesday.
While addressing the press today on the COVID-19 situation, the Deputy Speaker, Anita Among, also announced the appointment of regional task forces headed by MPs who are medical doctors by training to support the Executive in the fight against the pandemic.
The special Covid-19 taskforce will also monitor government interventions in the fight against COVID-19 during the current lockdown.
The Committee will also inquire into the government expenditure of the COVID-19 Funds.
Among also has dismissed rumours that the Speaker, Jacob Oulanyah is down battling Covid-19.
“We agreed with the Speaker that each of us should work for two months and I started. After my two months, I will also go and rest and the Speaker will come.”
The Deputy Speaker also clarified that Parliament has not been closed, but they asked legislators to stay away for two weeks to allow its fumigation. She said if the need arises, she will call the MPs to convene.
This was after the opposition agreed with the Parliament leadership to conduct business via digital platforms for two weeks to allow fumigation of the August House as a way of averting the spread of COVID-19.
The National Unity Platform (NUP) acting president, John Baptist Nambeshe, who is also the opposition chief whip, earlier today said the agreement followed discussions with the Deputy Speaker of Parliament (Among).
