The Speaker of parliament Rebecca Kadaga has indicated that a select committee has been instituted to look at the effect of Covid-19 on the population.
Kadaga says among the things to be accessed includes a waiver of utilities.
She said its government’s responsibility to ensure the supply of clean water to the citizens.”
Kadaga was responding to a motion moved by the Masaka Municipality MP, Hon. Mathias Mpuuga, during a plenary session on Tuesday 16 June 2020.
The motion accepted by Parliament was advocating for the government to enforce the non-payment of utilities to like water and electricity for a period of six months part of the COVID-19 recovery process.
Mpuuga explained that during the 3 months of lockdown, the economy has been heavily therefore there is a need for the government to offer to help by paying accumulating bills from service providers including, National Water and Sewerage Corporation-NWSC and UMEME.
“I urge the government to consider a waiver of the payment of water and electricity due to the fact that many citizens have lost jobs due to closure of companies, workers being laid off, loss of earnings because some couldn’t reach their work places, rendering them unable to pay for essential services,” he said.
Mpuuga advised that the government borrows a leaf from other countries that have taken part in this initiative adding that it would boost the ongoing campaign of washing hands with soap and water, which is key in fighting the spread of Covid -19.
A section of civil society in Uganda has during the lockdown called on the government to consider waiving Value-added Tax VAT on water and power bills to help the public and businesses recover from COVID-19 pandemic.
