UGX 156 Million Kisoro COVID-19 Relief Funds: 751 Names submitted out of 1560.

UGX 156 Million Kisoro COVID-19 Relief Funds: 751 Names submitted out of 1560.

By: Kamusiime Barnabas

More than 800 vulnerable people are at risk of losing out on government’s covid-19 cash payout to Kisoro Municipality due to an online system failure that has kept majority of the submissions hanging since the first attempt on Monday 5th July 2021.

This was revealed by the Kisoro Municipality senior development officer, Birungi Front while addressing the state Minister for gender and social development, Hon. Sarah Nyirabashitsi during a covid-19 relief fund progress and monitoring meeting in the municipal council hall.

According to Birungi Front, Kisoro Municipality was required to submit only 1560 but numbers were so overwhelming that forced them to register 1730 people.

He noted that 1200 names were entered in the system to be submitted to the ministry but only 751 have been successfully submitted and 449 names are still hanging while 809 names have not yet been entered into the online system to make a full list of 1560 names.

The following people were successfully submitted.

• 250  Bus and taxi operators
• 205 bar maids
• 60 bar waiters
• 60 artists
• 145 saloon owners
• 194 teachers
• 336 car washers
• 140 street vendors
• 108 boda boda riders

The Kisoro Municipality Mayor Ndyana Richard asked the minister to consider town councils and full participation of politicians in order to have smooth government exercises in future. He also noted that the scope of vulnerable persons does not cover all people affected by covid-19

The State Minister for gender, labor and social development in charge of children and youths affairs, Hon. Sarah Nyirabashitsi assured the municipal authorities that the issue of system failure will be solved as soon as possible.

She also noted that the government is soon getting donors who will help the government to give relief support to many categories of vulnerable Ugandans including in Municipalities.

Meanwhile, Hon.Sarah Mateeke asked municipal authorities to also consider the Batwa group of people and Prostitutes because they are also suffering due to lockdown.