MPs hesitant on meeting Mrs. Museveni on Schools reopening

By Francis Lubega

22^nd Nov 2021

A section of Member of Parliament- MPs are still divided on meeting the First Lady who also doubles as the Minister of Education and Sports Janet Kataaha Museveni to have their input on the reopening of schools.  

Some of the MPs say there is no harm to convene at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds while others say they are not comfortable to be hosted by the first Lady Janet Museveni who is answerable to parliament but not him hosting them.

While chairing plenary last week on Thursday, Deputy Speaker Anita Among revealed that the First Lady, Janet Museveni has requested to meet the MPs to seek their input as the Government finalizes plans to reopen schools.

Today MPs are taking their COVID-19 Test ahead of Wednesday’s meeting at Kololo Ceremonial Ground on the fact that Parliament is small and cannot accommodate the over 529 MPs without disobeying the COVID-19 SOPs.

The First Lady, also the Minister of Education and Sports, is set to meet all Members of Parliament in regards to the Government’s preparations to reopen schools.

It should be remembered that the Government closed all institutions of learning in March 2020 following the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

Bugiri Municipality MP Asuman Basalirwa says individually he was not invited by the minister and besides that he fears that his ideas at Kololo might not be incomplete.

He says it would be better if the minister laid down all her views on reopening of the schools in parliament so that MPs debate them and thereafter implement them.

Buhweju County MP (Buhweju District) Francis Mwijukye says he abides with rules and regulations governing parliament, he is not ready to convene at kololo grounds because his not fully convinced if the Speaker may also, by proclamation, appoint such a place and time within Uganda where Parliam ent shall sit.

Mityana North MPs Nsegumire Kibedi says it has no harm convening at Kololo to have Mps inputs on the school reopening as this is an opportunity for him to have his input in the education sector which is key in the country’s development.