Politicians Decry Ban on Food Distribution

As President Yoweri Museveni’s new stringent measures against the spread of Civid19 start to take effect, political leaders in Kampala have come out to urge the president to relax some of the restrictions, such as the ban on mass distribution of food to the people who need it.

President Museveni yesterday, in the national address in which he announced a national curfew and a ban on private cars, ordered police to arrest anybody that is found distributing food to crowds of people.

The president says such people, whom he termed as “opportunistic” should be charged with attempted murder.

“Those are very dangerous to the health of the people.  When you try to distribute food or money in such a situation, people gather around you.  Many people can be infected in that process,” Museveni said.

However, Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago says this stern measure could prove costly especially to the people who have been put out of work and have nowhere to get food.

The Lord Mayor yesterday handed out an assortment of food items to the Kibuli Mosque to be distributed to people who need it.

Such initiatives, he said today, should be welcomed rather than prohibited.

Lukwago added that government can agree with such politicians on the right way to distribute food, rather than stopping them altogether.

“Together with my cabinet, we used faith based organizations; we also have the LC system. We can also use other mechanisms that are clearly defined and agreed upon,” Lukwago told NTV on Tuesday.

“We appreciate government’s efforts to fight this pandemic, but we need to survive as well. Basically you have brought the country to a standstill; the entire country is paralyzed. People are locked up in their homes, they don’t have food, the sick cannot be taken to hospitals.”

While President Museveni allowed private cars to transport people with medical emergencies to hospitals after seeking permission from the RDC’s, Lukwago says this might not work.

“The RDCs you are talking about are nowhere to be found. You cannot tell me that where we are today, the RDCs will provide all the basic necessities that people need and handle all emergencies.”

Meanwhile, Kampala Central MP Muhammad Nsereko, who was blocked by police from distributing food items, has predicted doom.

“I can foresee anxiety, corruption, hunger, anger and increase in crime,” he said.