The Government of Uganda has stated that not all people listed in categories of “vulnerable people” qualifies to benefit from the relief package meant to support families stressed by COVID-19 containment measures including the lockdown.
The new development comes as government plans to extend hard cash support to some of the vulnerable persons within Kampala Metropolitan Area, Cities and Municipalities particularly targeting those who depend on daily earnings which have been interrupted by the Covid-19 containment measures.
Under the arrangement, UGX 54.7BN was also earmarked for this project in which 501,107 households are set to receive UGX100,000 each.
In a statement today, the minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Hon Betty Amongi noted that due to the limited funds available, not all vulnerable persons will benefit from the ongoing process even when they fall into the listed categories.
The minister said the National COVID-19 Taskforce on cash transfers provided a ceiling on numbers of persons to be reached per City or Municipality and KCCA.
“Let me also state that not all vulnerable persons are to be targeted at this particularly point. The National COVID-19 Taskforce on cash transfers provided a ceiling on numbers of persons to be reached per City or Municipality and KCCA. These numbers are guided by the available funding and cannot for all vulnerable persons even when they fall in the listed categories.” The statement reads in part.
Initially, government had listed 16 categories of persons as beneficiaries of this undertaking including Bus/Taxi
Drivers, Conductors, Baggage Carriers, Wheel barrow pushers, Touts, Traffic guides and Loaders in Taxi, Bus parks
and stages and other major commercial Centers such as Kikuubo, Barmen, DJs, Barmaids, waiters and bouncers, gym
and restaurant workers, Food vendors in Bus, Taxi Parks and Arcades, Artists (Musicians, Comedians, Producers,
Promoters), Boda boda riders, special hire drivers and Uber drivers, Saloons, Massage Parlor workers, Teachers and
Support staff in Private Schools and Teachers in Government Schools not on Government Payroll, Car Washers, Street
and food Vendors, Shoe Shiners and Cobblers.
However, the minster said Persons with Disabilities, Older Persons and Women are part of the targeted persons, as long as they fall in the categories issued.
“There was a misconception that since we are looking at workers, only men are considered. Allow me clarify that yes, Persons with Disabilities, Older Persons and Women are part of the target persons, as long as they fall in the categories we issued.” Hon Amongi said.
According to the minister, the exercise to register beneficiaries kicked off successfully with the mobilization of stakeholders who are playing different roles in the execution of the assignment led by the Town Clerks working with Community Development Officers, Labour Officers and other technical officers as the Town Clerks will deem fit.
Minister Amongi said, Town Clerks were chosen to lead the process because they are the custodians of information on the target persons including those who run daily incomes businesses in these urban areas. She said it is the reason why their list of beneficiaries include people like boda boda riders, taxi drivers/conductors, shoe shiners, street vendors etc whose details are held by KCCA, Cities and Municipalities authorities through their systems that at Division, Ward and villages levels.
“Town Clerks are supposed to ensure that they (lists) are displayed in the communities for purposes of collecting feedback that aids in the update of the lists to ensure that the list of beneficiaries are updated and validated. Local Council members are working closely with the designated technical officers to clean up the lists and names that are deleted will be replaced with other qualifying persons from the existing administrative lists in custody of the Town Clerk” -the statement adds.
Hon Amongi said local leaders are reminded that they are offered oversight and ensure that the exercise is conducted smoothly as per the set processes, and desist from inciting communities over matters that should be handled amicably with established teams.