Over the weekend, we began a fourth week since Mr. Museveni relaxed lockdown measures. Life in the country has returned to normal. Even sectors that were supposed to remain closed according to President Yoweri Museveni, have slowly re-opened themselves. The only bars that were not operating this weekend, are the ones with no customers.
While addressing the media, Forum for Democratic Change spokesperson Hon Ibrahim Ssemujju revealed that FDC as a party is disturbed by President Museveni’s continued refusal to open places of worship and schools. The second wave according to scientists, has now fully subsided. The scientists including Museveni’s health Minister Jane Aceng are now warning of a more devastating third wave.
The FDC as communicated earlier, wants the country fully re-opened during this period when the second wave is terminating. This will allow everybody including school children cover lost ground. Children should be facilitated to quickly sit for promotional exams and sent back home before the third wave. Places of worship should re-open because they will be closed when the third wave struck.
The FDC welcomes the news of the vaccines that we are told will begin arriving in the country next month (Nine million dozes of Johnson and Johnson, 18 million Chinese Sinopharm and 18 million of unnamed type from COVAX).
Knowing this NRM government, vaccines are likely to arrive in the country when there is no vaccination plan. You will then hear them fidget with transportation and storage. We demand for a vaccination plan before the arrival of the first batch. Remember, it took us more than six month to administer one million dozes that were donated to the country. We demand a list of those who will be vaccinated using the first batch and places where this vaccination will take place. If we must recruit additional health workers, let us do it now. We may also need to sign a memorandum of understanding with private health providers because we will certainly need their services when the vaccines arrive. Teachers and students should be vaccinated from their schools which we think should be immediately re-opened.
Should we be required to feed people again during the third wave, let us transparently develop a national list of vulnerable people. We should know in advance the amount of money we will require to feed people incase of a third wave.
And most importantly, we must improve our health facilities. There should be no excuse this time when a third wave hits the country. Should Museveni refuse to listen to this advice, we will be left with no option but to lead the population in civil action.
