The Ugandan Parliament is debating a bill seeking to slap steeper penalties on unvaccinated citizens, popularly known as anti-vaxxers.

According to a news report by CNN, should the bill be assented by the president, it would pave way for a six-month jail term or imposition of a fine not less than $1,000 on those who will be found guilty of opposing vaccination.

“Parliament’s Committee on Health has started the consideration of the Public Health (Amendment) Bill, 2021 that among other things seeks to ensure mandatory COVID-19 vaccination,” the Ugandan parliament stated in a statement on its website.

“According to the proposal, those who do not get vaccinated against COVID-19 will be fined Shs 4 million (around $1,137) or a jail term of six months.”

Uganda has so far inoculated at least 16 million out of her 45 million populations and is reeling from stringent containment measures that led to the closure of schools for two years.

The country has recorded 163,000 cases and 3,500 deaths so far.