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.

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.

Parliament's house health committee has begun scrutinising the Public Health (Amendment) Bill 2021 which seeks to make coronavirus vaccinations mandatory. The new law proposes a fine of four million Ugandan shillings ($1,139) for those who fail to get vaccinated, Reuters reports.