A Makerere University School of Law Don has called on the government to make vaccination compulsory if we are to upend the Coronavirus.
Prof Ben Kiromba Twinomugisha made the call on Friday in his Keynote address that marked the start of this year’s Rule of Law week organized by the Uganda Law Society.
“I don’t see why Covid-19 vaccination is not made mandatory. We should come up with a statutory instrument to this effect” The renowned health law professor said, ostensibly to Ministry of Health officials.
Uganda is presently conducting Covid-19 vaccination drives to allow her reach her initial vaccination target of 4.8m persons in the “priority” groups if she’s to fully open up her economy.
However, only 584,066 people have gotten their two shots whereas 1.8M have only gotten one shot. The reluctancy of some Ugandans to get vaccinated has been blamed on misinformation regarding side effects of the Covid-19 vaccine.
” The right to health is justiciable in Uganda. Violations or breaches of the right to health should attract a remedy” He said.
If Prof Ben Twinomugisha’s advice is implemented, it follows Ugandans would be punished either by imprisonment or fines in the event they are not vaccinated or they can be denied access to essential services as the case is in some other countries.
The 13th Rule of Law week opener was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health Ms. Diana Atwiine as its Chief Guest. She said as a Ministry they have an obligation to ensure the effective provision of health services in Uganda.
” The Ministry of Health is committed to ensuring that Ugandans enjoy the right to health. This is why we fight hard to ensure that health services are accessible without discrimination” She said.
Benjamin Ahikiiriza is a Legal Writer And Digital Communications & Marketing Specialist majoring in Lawyers, Law Firms And the larger Legal Sector.
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