It’s absurd that government has no database of the vulnerable people after 35 years in power, says Lukwago
The Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago has said that it’s absurd that after 35 years in power, the regime has no database of the vulnerable people in the country casting doubt on the mechanism going to be used to distribute the Covid-19 relief money.
Government intends to give Shs 100,000 per head to those people deemed to be vulnerable to the effects to the Covid-19 lockdown. The disbursement of the money is expected to begin tomorrow June 6 2021.
Lukwago’s remarks come days after authorities at Uganda National Bureau of Statics (UBOS) cast doubt on the integrity of the data government wants to use to support more than 500,000 vulnerable families affected by the Covid-19 lockdown.
UBOS refused to take responsibility for the figures of the vulnerable people released by Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development last week since he had not seen the circular on Covid-19 cash.
Officials said that the only data they have as the principal data collecting, processing, analyzing and dissemination agency, is from the list of people who received Covid-19 food relief last year, according to the newspaper, warning that the data for last year’s lockdown had integrity issues and cannot, therefore, be used for this year’s purpose.
In an interview, Lukwago said that we have a real crisis and unfortunately as a state, we are not as aggressive as the virus is claiming that the state is more aggressive against its people, something that it must address as soon as possible otherwise, it would be fighting a losing battle.
“Kampala leadership should be used at times like this right from the top leadership to the local council level. They are exciting people that the money is coming but how will it come when data of the beneficiaries has not been collected, “he said.
He said that they shall have an emergency sitting at City Hall tomorrow to address these issues.
“It’s difficult to correct this mess at this point. The advice I can give the government may not work at this point. The idea would be to get everyone on board, at least the political leadership, “he said.
He noted that the government should allow political leadership at this point in time at least role to play in gathering this information.
“The vulnerable should be receiving money based on the standards of living in Kampala. How do you give a homestead of 7-8 people Shs100,000? The least a family can get a day is Shs 10,000 which would be shs 420,000 for the 42 days, “he said.
He explained that at this time, there are those families who have already borrowed money with anticipation that they will pay back when the little money, they are to receive from the office of the Prime Minister.
“The virus is aggressive but are we as aggressive as it is. Have we prepared? Have we bought the necessary beds? Have we procured vaccines? Parliament should sit and see how we can work to deal with this delta variant because it’s aggressive. That’s the only way we shall get out of this situation, “he advised.
Last week government launched a verification exercise intended to check the validity of the proposed beneficiaries of the Covid-19 relief cash.