The ministry of health gave an accountability of the COVID-9 funds that were received from both the government and the different donations given by people as a way of showing support towards the ongoing fight against the pandemic.
The ministry also noted it requires Ugx 171 billion to procure test kits that will help in testing for the COVID-19 infection in the country.
The remarks were made by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Diana Atwine. “The money is not enough and that’s why when you hear these big countries committing in billions of dollars in the fight against COVID-19 But for us we are talking about Ugx 171 billion and people think is a big thing,’ she said.
Atwine explained that of the Ugx 280 billion from government, the ministry has received cash of Ugx 119 billion with Ugx 89 billion still pending and Ugx 4.8 billion that was used to buy resources.
“Government of Uganda through supplementary budget and the money advanced to us earlier by ministry of Finance, altogether came to Ugx 119 billion. We are yet to also receive Ugx 89 billion through supplementary which is yet to be tabled in the parliament,” Atwine said
Atwine also noted that the ministry has since allocated some money to all the regional referral hospitals and some money was used to procure Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for the health workers.
“Each regional referral hospitals received Ugx 272 million and this money was supposed to be dedicated for the patients care, the feeding and also to help transport patients that are within the areas they serve. Every two weeks we deliver PPEs to the facilities,” she explained.
She said that Ugx 11 billion was used to buy 37 ambulances and Ugx 6 billion were was spent to purchase oxygen plants. Although some health workers have been crying of not getting their allowances, Atwine said the ministry has so far used shs 16.4 billion to pay these health workers.
“Allowances constitute a big portion of a budget why? Because every day all our people working against COVID-19 are entitled to hardship daily allowances.I must say almost 95% of the staff have been paid,” she said.
She said the ministry also used Ugx 2.3 billion to pay for the accommodations” of all the Ugandans who returned to the country before the lockdown and they were in the institutions of quarantine and isolation.
The minister, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng also warned that Uganda is likely to get to stage four of the pandemic should the population remain complacent of the dangers presented by the virus.
“And everyday, if you look at the report of cases ,you will see Kyotera, Amuru. We are receiving cases from there but don’t relax and think because we are reporting few cases,the situation is getting better,no,” She said.