The parliament of Uganda has summoned two ministers, including Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng, for apparently flouting the standard operating procedures instituted to curb the spread of the coronavirus.

In a statement on Tuesday, parliamentary speaker Rebecca Kadaga said the decision to summon the ministers came after legislators accused them of holding meetings without observing physical distancing and other standard operating procedures, such as wearing masks.

According to the legislators, Aceng was seen over the weekend addressing a crowd without observing physical distancing and she was not wearing a mask.

“The honourable Ruth Aceng should come and explain to us if there is Covid-19 or she is just misleading the president so that the lockdown continues,” Kalungu West member of parliament Joseph Ssewungu Gonzaga said.

However, Aceng said she was at the meeting to instruct the crowd in the use of masks.

The MP from Makindye Division West, Allan Ssewanyana, said that the Minister of State for Kampala Capital City, Benny Namugwanya, was also seen holding a rally on Sunday in Madudu, Mubende district, that was attended by more than 2 000 people.

"They were singing and gathering and the police did not take any action. Our people are suffering. As of today, over 400 people have been arrested for violating the guidelines,” he said.

Kadaga said the government should consider ways in which the population can learn to live with the pandemic.

“The government should also consider organising the society to manage it. How long will this lockdown continue? I think it is a problem to the people and we need an evaluation to be discussed here in the House,” she said.

The East African country has recorded 1 043 Covid-19 cases but no related deaths.