By Ritah Ainembabazi
Former Forum for Democratic Change president Dr. Kiza Besigye has poked holes in the government’s move to issue face masks to every citizen as Uganda moves to ease the current lockdown.
During his fourteenth address on Covid-19 situation in Uganda last night, president Yoweri Museveni said government will provide proper masks to all Ugandans aged six and above to enable compulsory wearing of masks in public at all times.
However, Dr. Besigye says much as the post-lockdown use of masks is a good safeguard, there are no scientifically specified type of non-medical masks as per the World Health Organisation’s guidelines.
Through his official Facebook page, Besigye says if Ugandan scientists have recommended specifications for such masks, they should be published so that whoever wants them can produce them.
“So why would a highly indebted poor country(HIPC) like Uganda insist on making and issuing every citizen a face mask? Moreover decree that every one stays at home until you issue them with the government masks!” Besigye wonders
He says government can give specifications ( if they have any) and then supply those who can’t get for themselves.
Besigye adds that even for the government supplied masks, the PPDA procedures should be followed to give all Ugandans an equal opportunity to supply the masks.
” It seems a dubious deal is already made with Nytil (Southern Range Nyanza) in Jinja to produce and supply the masks” Besigye says
The four time presidential candidate warns that forcing government masks on all Ugandans is unacceptable and illegal and could even give credence for security threats that have been circulating about giving out of poisoned masks.
