Government Starts Food Distribution to Covid-19 Lockdown Victims

Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda has flagged off the distribution of food aid which he said will start in Bwaise.

Parliament had attempted to extend the activity on grounds that the activity should start at once in all parts of the country.

However, President Museveni explained that the food distribution is not for the poor across the country but for those affected by the recently announced lockdown.

The president noted that this is an emergency, adding that poverty has been here long before the coronavirus pandemic.

While flagging off the trucks carrying the relief food items, the Prime Minister revealed that Posho, Beans, Salt, and milk were among the items that would be given to the Ugandans especially vulnerable groups.

Rugunda flagged off the program on Saturday in the presence of many political figures, security officers and businessmen.

One of the businessmen, Ham Kiggundu, a local businessman donated shs100M cash to the national task force to help with the fight against COVID-19.

Meanwhile, Dr Rugunda urged all the stakeholders to ensure social distancing during the exercise, noting that any crowing will lead to automatic halt of the food distribution. 

The food distribution shall be conducted by local council chairpersons with the aid of security forces that is to say Uganda police force and Uganda people’s defense forces in order to ensure social distancing.

According to Musa Ecweru, the coordinator for the program, the distribution starts in Bwaise.

President Yoweri Museveni said on Monday that the vulnerable people may be supported by the government with food items for at least a month until normalcy returns in the country. He warned about proper identification of beneficiaries and that distribution must be done in a health-conscious way.

“We are looking at groups who were feeding themselves but living hand to mouth. Once you stop what they are doing because of health issues, where do they get food?” Museveni asked.

He added: “The majority of people in the country feed themselves like the farmers have their gardens and people in the towns have money and bank accounts with savings.”