Parliament coy on MP Kahunde Covid19 status ahead of MPs Testing

Parliament says it is not aware of Kiryandongo Woman MP Helen Kahunde’s Covid19 status despite media claims that she tested positive.

On July 15, reports claimed that Kahunde had felt unwell after and gone to Mulago National Referral Hospital where medics took her sample for testing.

MP KAHUNDE COVID19 REPORTS

They further claimed that Kahunde was among the patients confirmed on July 15.

The new cases put Uganda’s infection toll at 1,043. Some 984 patients have recovered and the country has registered no death.

Some quoted Aruu MP Samuel Odonga Otto as writing that he had information a female MP who was in July 14’s plenary had tested positive for Covid19.

Otto wondered why Parliament had not made the information of the MP’s status public.

“Why are they hiding it?” he asked.

But Parliament’s Communication Department has dismissed the reports of MP Kahunde’s status, saying no legislator had tested positive.

“The Parliament of Uganda clarifies that to date, it has no knowledge of any Member of Parliament having tested positive for Covid19,” read a statement the department issued hours after the reports.

Parliament maintains that information relating to one’s status remains a confidential issue until one chooses to reveal it.”

The department further assured Ugandans that Parliament was not at risk, otherwise the Ministry of Health would have advised on appropriate measures.

KADAGA ORDERS MPS MASS COVID19 TESTING

Earlier during during plenary, Speaker Rebecca Kadaga announced screening of MPs for Covid19 would start on July 16 in the morning while observing social distance.

According to Kadaga, the testing of the legislators was preceded by that of Cabinet. Parliament staff will also take tests after the legislators.

Also, the Speaker asked for a report on the lockdown measures, with a view of fully lifting it and putting in place measures to ensure that Ugandans can go on with their lives amidst the Covid19 pandemic.