Early this week, Nabbanja stated that politicians were causing people to converge as they scramble for food, which exposes them to the risks of contracting COVID-19. She guided that the politicians either send out money to people’s mobile phone accounts or give the food to established COVID-19 task-forces at their respective districts, to allow for proper distribution to the needy.
Bukomansimbi Woman MP Veronica Nanyondo handing maize flour to Boda Boda riders despite PM Nabbanja's activities to directly give food to people in Lockdown
Opposition Members of Parliament have scoffed at Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja for banning the distribution of relief food by politicians during the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown.
Early this week, Nabbanja stated that politicians were causing people to converge as they scramble for
food, which exposes them to risks of contracting COVID-19. She guided that
the politicians either send out money to people’s mobile phone accounts or give
the food to established COVID-19 task-forces at their respective
districts, to allow for proper distribution to the
needy.
But opposition legislators
from the Masaka region have described the approach as improper, arguing
that in the absence of a comprehensive support plan by the government has left them with
no alternative but to directly offer the support they can.
Bukomansimbi Woman MP Veronica Nanyondo says that because the government left out rural communities
on its list of vulnerable groups that needed support, many people continue to
genuinely plead with leaders for food relief. She argues that
district COVID-19 task-forces are also stuck with no resources to coordinate surveillance
activities.
Masaka City MP Juliet Kakande equally argues that they are mindful of the
realities of COVID-19 and that they have always emphasized the aspects of
prevention and observing of Standard Operating Procedures-SOPs whenever they
engage the people. She says that
their communities are starving after waiting for government support in vain.
//Cue in; (Luganda) “ era ffe ekyo ffe….
Cue out;….tusobole okuyambagana.”//
Mathias Mpuuga,
the Leader of Opposition in Parliament and MP for Nyendo-Mukungwe division
argues that in the absence of a proper plan for reaching out to all vulnerable
groups, the government should encourage people to support each other than putting in
place unnecessary limitations.
According to
Mpuuga Ugandans know the dangers of COVID-19 and prevention approaches, adding that it is proper that they are allowed to support those in need in total
observance of widely acceptable SOPs. The politicians also encouraged people to
continue supporting those in need with any relief.
//Cue in; (Luganda) “wakati mu kwekengera….
Cue out..obuyambi butuuka ddi.”//
But Fred Enanga,
the Uganda Police Force Spokesperson says their teams have been instructed to
ensure that all government directives are observed to the latter to ensure that
people remain safe from the COVID-19 pandemic.
