Legislators last Friday rose up in arms and demanded for the immediate arrest of all Ugandans infected with jiggers. The MPs of the Parliamentary Food Security and Population Forum while addressing a news conference at Parliament said, "It is total negligence for any sane Ugandan to suffer from jiggers".
"We are going to arrest people with jiggers for failing to take care of their bodies as per the Public Health Act. They shall be charged in court," Mr Agrey Bagiire (NRM, Bunya West) said.
Recently, Busoga region reportedly formed an association to fight jiggers following the admission of a family suffering from jiggers. A family in Mawoito village in Jinja District was last week admitted to Kakira Health Centre infested with jiggers. Reacting to the incident, MPs demanded that the government launches a nation-wide crack down against people found with jiggers.
Of recent, there has been public concerns that the government should intervene to save the increasing number of people infested with jiggers especially in Busoga region.
The public argues now that basic items like soap are unaffordable, it could be the reason for the increasing cases of jiggers in West and Eastern region.
The legislators, however, said the government should not be blamed.
Kakuuto County MP Mathias Kasamba said the people of Busoga region should be sensitised about how to keep their bodies clean.
"It is shaming for Ugandans at this information age to suffer from jiggers. Let the leaders there sensitise them about hygiene," he said.
Last year the education officers in western Uganda were concerned about the increasing cases of pupils having jiggers in Universal Primary Schools.
In the same press conference, the legislators announced they would engage the government in a debate to block any further exportation of foodstuffs abroad until the prices stabilise.
"With the increasing food prices that have created a shortage in the country, the government should stop exporting food items like it is in Tanzania as a means of controlling the prices," Mr Kasamba suggested.
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Dear fellow Country Men and Women, what is happing in Busoga now should not be blamed to the government but as I have always said, the problem of jiggers among the local communities of Busoga is a problem of Leadership, that is to say Busoga have many leaders who have big positions in this government but they aren't unsing their postions fully to extend service delivery to their people who entrusted them with power with some of them are seeking to apply to take legle actions against their voter like my friend Hon. Agrey Bagiire the Bunya west MP can you imagine, I would to ask Hon. Bagiire what steps did he do to sensitise the people on how to avoid this epidemic? All Busoga leaders are enboiling them selves in politics amidist the people they represent in parliament with many battles among them selves and how do you think they will extend services to the people? They should work hand in hand with Busoga Health Sensitization Network the organsition which was started to sensitise people of Busoga on all health related issues and also fight the overwhelming spread of jiggers in the region, I therefore call upon all leaders of Busoga to join us in the straggle to raid our region of shame. I remain Prince Ibanda Twaha Executive Director Busoga Health Sensitization Network email. nbusogahealth@yahoo.co.uk cell. +256752553169