By Agnes Kiconco

KIU, Main Campus - Dr. Charles Ayume, Chair of the Committee on Health, Parliament of Uganda said the Parliament Committee on Health has started considering the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021.

Dr. Ayume said among other things, the Bill seeks to introduce mandatory COVID-19 vaccination and fines of up to Shs4m or jail term of six months.

The Bill seeks to establish a regulatory framework to manage health risks around COVID-19. Subject to certain conditions, the Bill will give the ACT Government the power to require people to have a COVID-19 vaccination for: their work; an activity; attending a place; or working in particular places.

The Bill also has conditional powers for the Chief Health Officer to require a person to take a test, to isolate, and provide information.

The Chief Minister and the Minister for Health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng introduced the Bill into the Assembly on Thursday, December 2, 2021.