Human Rights Commission says giving Covid relief money was discriminatory.

 

During the launch of the distribution of COVID-19 relief monies to disadvantaged residents in Kampala, Uganda, on July 8, 2021, Uganda's Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja (C) makes a phone call to one of the beneficiaries.
According to Nabbanja, the funds will be distributed to beneficiaries via mobile money services, with each person receiving approximately $30 USD. (Photo courtesy of Xinhua/Nick Kajoba)

By Nangayi Guyson 

Kampala, Uganda - The Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) has stated that while donating cash to disadvantaged Ugandans was a kind gesture, it was discriminatory.

Unlike the first lockdown, the government chose to provide a cash-based relief package worth Shs. 100,000 to each vulnerable household, with over 500,000 households in cities, towns, and metropolitan centers around the country receiving assistance.

Many people were left out of the distribution of the Covid relief money, according to UHRC Chairperson Meddie Mulumba. 

“There are issues about the procedures used to choose the recipients. The use of the terms individuals and households interchangeably to identify beneficiary categories has produced misunderstanding, according to the commission,” Mulumba said.

He made the remarks while speaking to journalists on behalf of the commission, and added that if the situation is not cleared, some beneficiaries may receive the monies twice, putting other Ugandans at risk. 

“The panel is also worried about how the relief monies are disbursed.

Some disadvantaged people who do not have access to a cell phone or a National Identification Number (NIN) may be left out,” he warned.

“There have also been concerns expressed regarding recipients whose NINs do not match their mobile money account data, forcing them to receive monies through Post Bank mobile vans.

Furthermore, some of the needy people lack the technical skills to operate electronic devices, making them vulnerable to fraudsters when they request help accessing their funds.”

He continued, 

According to the Uganda Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Prime Minister should perform a holistic assessment of the intended beneficiaries at the conclusion of the exercise to determine who is clearly vulnerable in order to avoid prejudice in the future.

The government recognized various groups of persons who rely on daily earnings and whose lives have been badly impacted by the Covid-induced lockdown, which resulted in employment losses. 

Musicians, comedians, producers, promoters, food vendors, baggage carriers, touts, wheelbarrow pushers, traffic guides, and loaders in tax and bus parks, stages, and other sites such as Kikuubo were among the groups of beneficiaries mentioned by the government, with each person receiving Shs. 100,000.

This was to cover the costs of purchasing 20kg of posho for shs40,000, 10kg of beans for shs25000, a bar of soap for shs3000, a three-liter jerrican of cooking oil for shs 12000, and the remaining shs20,000 for household needs.

However, while many of the beneficiaries had received their relief funds by last week, others have yet to do so. 

over 480,000 people were registered for Covid-19 relief funds cash.