Under a change to a public health law presently being debated in Parliament, Uganda proposes to impose fines on anyone who refuses to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and those who do not pay could be sent to prison.
On Monday, Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng told legislators that the revision is necessary to abolish outdated legislation, revise fines for crimes committed, and protect residents.
“As a public health policy to safeguard the vulnerable, the bill incorporates a provision on vaccination and immunization,” she explained. “When new vaccines are introduced, we need a large number of people to achieve mass immunity.” It’s critical that everyone who needs to be vaccinated gets one.”
Although the East African country began delivering COVID-19 immunizations over a year ago, just roughly 16 million vaccinations had been given out in a population of 45 million people. The limited coverage is being blamed on widespread apprehension, according to officials.
As a result, the Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2021, which seeks to make coronavirus vaccine mandatory, is being examined by the Parliament’s Health Committee.
Those who do not get vaccinated would face a fine of 4 million Ugandan shillings ($1,139) under the new rule.
“Those who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be fined 4 million shillings or [shall] get a six-month jail term,” Parliament said in a statement on its website.
The statement issued by Parliament on Tuesday did not specify when the draught bill will be presented to its members for approval.
Uganda’s economy reopened entirely this month after nearly two years of anti-coronavirus measures such as curfews, business, and school closures, border closures, and other measures.
Although the severe rules served to contain the virus, they were widely criticized by Ugandans whose companies and livelihoods were damaged.
According to health ministry data, the country has seen roughly 163,000 cases of COVID-19 and 3,500 deaths.
