SHOCK: Minister Musenero Awes Parliament Saying No Need For More COVID-19 Tests

By DOREEN ASASIRA

KAMPALA, Uganda [SHIFTMEDIA] After being squeezed for hours for failing to account for billions used for COVID-19 test kit funds, the minister of Science, Technology, and Innovation Dr. Monica Musenero on Tuesday Left Public Accounts Committee Speechless when she said it is no longer necessary for Ugandans to test for Covid-19.

The Minister came up with this while appearing before the Committee to answer queries on Why machines were procured to facilitate research and development of COVID-19 vaccines that have never been utilized.

Hon. Asuman Basalirwa, Vice Chairperson of the committee inquired why Covid 19 test is only done during presidential events which raise an issue of a double standard to the Committee.

Asked to explain the situation from a current point of view, Dr. Musenero said that the president personally insists the test should always be done during any event he attends. She further ascertained that any entity can choose to do the test though it is no longer mandatory.

“According to public health, the risk is low enough,” Musenero noted. So if according to public health the risk is low, why should those seeking to visit H.E the president, or those attending events where he is present be subject to COVID-19 tests?

Recently, the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament summoned the minister to understand how the UGX31Billion COVID-19 vaccine money was utilized.

ALSO READ: https://www.shiftmedianews.com/inquiry-dr-musenero-quizzed-over-loss-of-ugx5-2b-tax-payers-money/

The MPs also accused the minister of employing scientists close to her which frauds the PPDA Regulations because the project was initiated by the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation through the Presidential science initiative on epidemics (PRESIDE)

She however denied the allegations.

Despite the government Investing over UGX31 Billion shillings in COVID-19 research, little progress has been made in Vaccine development