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Opening the plenary session of parliament yesterday, the speaker of parliament said she had been reading newspapers and listening to various media outlets in Uganda informing Ugandans that monkey pox was spreading but the ministry of health had not given parliament a clear report on the disease yesterday 17^th October 2024.

The speaker of parliament opened yesterday’s plenary session by saying that she had been reading newspapers and listening to Ugandan media outlets alerting Ugandans to the spread of monkey pox, but that the ministry of health had not provided parliament with a comprehensive report on the illness.

The Speaker also wants the tourism ministry responsible for the alleged monkeys to work with his health ministry to bring a comprehensive report to parliament.

The speaker also urged MPs to encourage their constituents to protect themselves from monkey pox and provide them with accurate information about the disease.

West Moyo Alero MP Tom Aza told parliament that the ministry should address the monkey pox problem early as it has already reported two cases in his area while his area is full of refugees who are moving around which could lead to the disease spreading.

Butambala MP Muwanga Kivumbi told parliament that in Kira where he lives the monkeys have already left the forests and are staying in people’s homes, that they have tried to complain to the wildlife authorities but they have not been helped.

Meanwhile, Makindye ssabagabo municipality MP David Sserukenya threatened MPs when he told parliament that his girl child at home is already infected with Mpox and she is under treatment.

However, Deputy Tourism Minister Martin Mugara urged MPs not to kill the monkeys in their areas and not to encourage people to start killing the monkeys but asked them to contact the Wildlife Authority and they will remove them and take them to their rightful place.