Parliament cannot wait until an exercise has been completed to carry out its oversight function

The Constitution of Uganda, Article 164(3) gives Parliament the mandate to oversee/ monitor
expenditure of all public funds. After the approval of the Supplementary budget of Ushs 304
billion, it was also important that oversight is provided to get rid of the unscrupulous individuals.

For the public to be assured of transparency and accountability in the application of the approved
sum of public funds towards the fight against the coronavirus disease; and most importantly
monitoring the implementation of Government guidelines, the members of parliament must be
enabled to play their roles without any compromise.

Secondly, Parliament is part of the emergency response team of the pandemic which reports on
the matter and raises a flag on discussions on the floor of the august house for action.

It was also necessary that the Speaker, instituted a Parliament Technical Taskforce on Covid-19,
to support the National taskforce, and provide oversight to the management of the pandemic
countrywide fused with the area Members of Parliament.

At this moment the country requires synergies, where the Parliament Technical Task Force on
Covid-19 (sectoral committee on health), ‘MUST’ also visit and assess the awareness levels of
the district leadership and communities, the readiness of health facilities to manage Covid-19
including; the state and welfare of the medical workers as they deliver the essential services and
also sort out underlying issues which may affect managing health crises.
This will as well help the Members of Parliament to get regular reports on the matter at hand by
relying on the information directly gathered by their colleagues in respective areas of
representation about what exactly is happening on the ground.

With over 200 Members of Parliament voluntarily offering a fleet of private ambulances and
private vehicles, to be used by the Ministry of Health to transport patients and health workers to
different health facilities around the country during the Covid-19 outbreak at their cost, the 20
million facilitation would help to deal with the surging number of patients where public transport
has been suspended under the presidential directives for a specific period, payment of drivers and
also monitor the mechanical condition of the motor vehicle.

Members of Parliament have been topping the list to respond on issues raised in their
constituencies before the authorities reach out. It is a clear indication that the country must
continue to function even if there is a public health emergency.

The absence of some members creates a wide gap where citizens/ everyone is left for their
survival. It is, therefore, a collective responsibility as citizens of Uganda to fight Covid-19.