Parliament Halts Distribution of Relief Food in Kampala

Parliament on Thursday deferred the passing of Shs 284bn supplementary budget to fight the spread of Coronavirus in the country.

Government on Wednesday tabled the supplementary request to quickly support different sectors on the frontline against the extremely contagious COVID-19 that the country has registered 45 cases. Over 90% of the cases are imported from the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai, Europe and America. The country has also registered cases from Ugandans who got in touch with the imported cases.

Finance Minister, Matia Kasaija said government critically faced budget constraints to handle the Pandemic.

“The Government is currently facing resource constraints given revenue shortfalls. The Options available for financing the COVID-19 will be through supplementary,” said Kasaija.

Ministry of Health, which is at the forefront of handling the pandemic, needs Shs 107bn; security requires Shs 75bn while the Ministry of ICT and National Guidance is set to get Shs 6bn, down from 14bn to champion sensitization of the masses. Meanwhile Kampala Capital City Authority needs Shs 30bn since the city is projected to register the most cases.

The Budget Committee processed the supplementary request and its report was ready on Thursday afternoon but the House Speaker Rebecca Kadaga deferred the passing of the supplementary to Tuesday next week.

In the meantime, Kadaga told the Prime Minister, Ruhakana Rugunda to halt the plans of distributing of food in the Kampala Metropolitan region set to start on Saturday. Kadaga said the lockdown is across the country and citizens should be considered countrywide.

“Prime Minister, the plans to give food to only the people in Kampala and leaving other parts of the country equally in lockdown is not fair. The whole country should be considered and please let the distribution be put on hold and a new plan put in place for everyone,” said Kadaga.

Rugunda announced on Wednesday that government will start distributing food relief to the venerable Kampala dwellers on April 4 2020. Each person in a given household is going to get 3kg of beans, 6kg and some salt. Breastfeeding mothers are going to be giver powdered milk and sugar.