Ugandans would face fines, jail for refusing COVID jab under new law

FILE PHOTO: Students register and have their temperatures taken at Bukere Secondary School, after schools reopened following the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) induced shutdown in Kyaka II Refugee Settlement, in Kyegegwa District, Uganda January 11, 2022. REUTERS/Esther Ruth Mbabazi/File Photo

KAMPALA (Reuters) - Uganda plans to impose fines on people who refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who fail to pay could be sent to prison under a new public health law which lawmakers are scrutinising, parliament said on Tuesday.

Although the East African country started administering COVID-19 jabs nearly a year ago, only about 16 million jabs have been administered in a population of 45 million, with officials blaming widespread reluctance for the low coverage.