Manufacturers have told government they can not come up with the required masks for the population in two weeks.

President Yoweri Museveni told the nation on Monday and Tuesday night that he can only open up if population above the age of 6 has a mask.

Parliament hosted the State Minister for Health Joyce Moriku to debate her statement on govt plans to procure masks.

Minister Moriku told the house during Plenary manufacturers can only make 11.2 million masks in two weeks. She said that the distribution of masks will be done in phases as the country is divided in zones.

Speaker Rebecca Kadaga disagreed with the minister wondering whether she had exploited the options in the city.

Kadaga quizzed Moriku: “There are a lot of young people in this town who are already making masks. Have they been contacted? Where do they fit in?”

The Minister agreed with the speaker: “That is very good information and I will bring it to the attention of the responsible minister.”

Former minister of internal affairs and MP Koboko district James Baba tipped: “The Minister has not given us clear indication of how the 42 million masks will be availed to all Ugandans in the two weeks. Hon Moriku should come clear on the guidelines of distribution of masks.”

Baba added: “Gov’t will follow formal procedure for award of contract to all manufacturing companies that have the capacity to produce the required face masks.”

Aruu MP Odonga Otto sought for clarification on whether the Uganda National Bureau of Standards has been involved in the procurement of the masks so that “we don’t want to get masks that are fake”.

Opposition powerhouse, Cecilia Ogwal guided the minister to ensure that must be a procedure to advertise, pre-qualify and purchase of these masks.

Ogwal went on: “Can we guide the government on managing situation during the Covid-19 pandemic especially on the face masks. We have women groups that can make 3000 masks in a day.”

Maj. Gen Flavia Byekwaso contributing via zoom urged government not to start distribution of masks in zones but target the priority areas like traders.

Major Gen. Byekwaso asked for clarity on the fate of the small producers who were already making masks before the directive came in.

Latif Ssebaggala has demanded to know the number of face masks the government is planning to give each person especially students who are set to resume studies soon.

Ssebaggala said just as students in schools cannot have only one pair of uniform, he hopes that government takes note.