COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021
Abstract Background Despite the discovery of vaccines, the control, and prevention of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relied on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This article describes the development and application of the Public Health Act to implement NPIs for COVID-19 pandemic control...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15555-5 |
| _version_ | 1797836244907982848 |
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| author | Martha Isabella Achan Immaculate Nabukenya Sarah Mitanda Joanita Nakacwa Herbert Bakiika Maureen Nabatanzi Justine Bukirwa Aisha Nakanwagi Lydia Nakiire Cedric Aperce Aaron Schwid Solome Okware Ekwaro A. Obuku Mohammed Lamorde Brian Luswata Issa Makumbi Allan Muruta Henry G. Mwebesa Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero |
| author_facet | Martha Isabella Achan Immaculate Nabukenya Sarah Mitanda Joanita Nakacwa Herbert Bakiika Maureen Nabatanzi Justine Bukirwa Aisha Nakanwagi Lydia Nakiire Cedric Aperce Aaron Schwid Solome Okware Ekwaro A. Obuku Mohammed Lamorde Brian Luswata Issa Makumbi Allan Muruta Henry G. Mwebesa Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero |
| author_sort | Martha Isabella Achan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Despite the discovery of vaccines, the control, and prevention of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relied on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This article describes the development and application of the Public Health Act to implement NPIs for COVID-19 pandemic control in Uganda. Methods This is a case study of Uganda’s experience with enacting COVID-19 Rules under the Public Health Act Cap. 281. The study assessed how and what Rules were developed, their influence on the outbreak progress, and litigation. The data sources reviewed were applicable laws and policies, Presidential speeches, Cabinet resolutions, statutory instruments, COVID-19 situation reports, and the registry of court cases that contributed to a triangulated analysis. Results Uganda applied four COVID-19 broad Rules for the period March 2020 to October 2021. The Minister of Health enacted the Rules, which response teams, enforcement agencies, and the general population followed. The Presidential speeches, their expiry period and progress of the pandemic curve led to amendment of the Rules twenty one (21) times. The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces Act No. 7 of 2005, the Public Finance Management Act No. 3 of 2015, and the National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management supplemented the enacted COVID-19 Rules. However, these Rules attracted specific litigation due to perceived infringement on certain human rights provisions. Conclusions Countries can enact supportive legislation within the course of an outbreak. The balance of enforcing public health interventions and human rights infringements is an important consideration in future. We recommend public sensitization about legislative provisions and reforms to guide public health responses in future outbreaks or pandemics. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:05:34Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4116935976c4064827951ffff6842f7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T15:05:34Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4116935976c4064827951ffff6842f72023-04-30T11:30:56ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582023-04-012311910.1186/s12889-023-15555-5COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021Martha Isabella Achan0Immaculate Nabukenya1Sarah Mitanda2Joanita Nakacwa3Herbert Bakiika4Maureen Nabatanzi5Justine Bukirwa6Aisha Nakanwagi7Lydia Nakiire8Cedric Aperce9Aaron Schwid10Solome Okware11Ekwaro A. Obuku12Mohammed Lamorde13Brian Luswata14Issa Makumbi15Allan Muruta16Henry G. Mwebesa17Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero18Infectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityMinistry of Justice and Constitutional AffairsMinistry of Justice and Constitutional AffairsInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityResolve to Save LivesVital StrategiesWorld Health Organization, Uganda Country OfficeInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityInfectious Diseases Institute, Makerere UniversityMinistry of HealthMinistry of HealthMinistry of HealthMinistry of HealthMinistry of HealthAbstract Background Despite the discovery of vaccines, the control, and prevention of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) relied on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). This article describes the development and application of the Public Health Act to implement NPIs for COVID-19 pandemic control in Uganda. Methods This is a case study of Uganda’s experience with enacting COVID-19 Rules under the Public Health Act Cap. 281. The study assessed how and what Rules were developed, their influence on the outbreak progress, and litigation. The data sources reviewed were applicable laws and policies, Presidential speeches, Cabinet resolutions, statutory instruments, COVID-19 situation reports, and the registry of court cases that contributed to a triangulated analysis. Results Uganda applied four COVID-19 broad Rules for the period March 2020 to October 2021. The Minister of Health enacted the Rules, which response teams, enforcement agencies, and the general population followed. The Presidential speeches, their expiry period and progress of the pandemic curve led to amendment of the Rules twenty one (21) times. The Uganda Peoples Defense Forces Act No. 7 of 2005, the Public Finance Management Act No. 3 of 2015, and the National Policy for Disaster Preparedness and Management supplemented the enacted COVID-19 Rules. However, these Rules attracted specific litigation due to perceived infringement on certain human rights provisions. Conclusions Countries can enact supportive legislation within the course of an outbreak. The balance of enforcing public health interventions and human rights infringements is an important consideration in future. We recommend public sensitization about legislative provisions and reforms to guide public health responses in future outbreaks or pandemics.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15555-5Public Health LawUgandaCOVID-19PandemicRulesNon-pharmaceutical interventions |
| spellingShingle | Martha Isabella Achan Immaculate Nabukenya Sarah Mitanda Joanita Nakacwa Herbert Bakiika Maureen Nabatanzi Justine Bukirwa Aisha Nakanwagi Lydia Nakiire Cedric Aperce Aaron Schwid Solome Okware Ekwaro A. Obuku Mohammed Lamorde Brian Luswata Issa Makumbi Allan Muruta Henry G. Mwebesa Jane Ruth Aceng Ocero COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 BMC Public Health Public Health Law Uganda COVID-19 Pandemic Rules Non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| title | COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 |
| title_full | COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 |
| title_short | COVID-19 and the law in Uganda: a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 |
| title_sort | covid 19 and the law in uganda a case study on development and application of the public health act from 2020 to 2021 |
| topic | Public Health Law Uganda COVID-19 Pandemic Rules Non-pharmaceutical interventions |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15555-5 |
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