JEEMA asks government for its post-covid plan

The opposition party hopes to preempt President Museveni, who will address the country tomorrow on the subject of fully reopening the economy, into sharing a few spoilers ahead of his address.

For over two years, the economy has been closed to varying degrees, ever since the Covid-19 pandemic reared its ugly head and prompted the shutdown of economies worldwide.

The president’s Friday address is viewed by many as the unveiling of a plan to rescue the country from the ruins of a depleted economy.

However, instead of waiting until tomorrow, the JEEMA spokesperson, Mr. Ssentongo Kyamundu, wants clarification on the government’s actual position ahead of the president’s address.

“As schools were closed during the lockdown, many teachers have died during the closure whereas others have quit the profession into other gainful employment such as bricklaying and vending. What is the government's plan to address all this? How will those teachers who left the profession be lured back? For those who stayed but have nowhere to begin, what is government going to do for them?” Kyamundu asked.

“Some private education providers have sold their schools or hired them into other ventures like shopping malls and rental homes. Does the government plan to address this and see that they return our teachers to our children?” he added.

According to the JEEMA spokesperson, there should be a deliberate and detailed government program to vouchsafe a recovery package to both teachers and schools, in view of how badly both have been hit by the ravages of the pandemic and its attendant economic effects.

JEEMA said the reopening of the economy should not only be at the level of declaration, but should also reflect the meaningful repair of lives and livelihoods badly damaged by its closure.

“We request that the government extend interest free loans to schools and all businesses that have mostly been affected by the closure of the economy. This will ensure they are reawakened,” said the spokesperson.