Each Ugandan to get Shs 100,000 as Covid-19 relief cash

The office of the Prime Minister has announced that they plan to give out Shs100,000 to each Ugandan in the category of vulnerable poor as covid-19 relief cash amid the 42-day lockdown.

In the meeting with journalists today, the new Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja said the government will spend 53 Billion Shillings for the category of people who will receive this cash.

This means that a total of 530,000 Ugandans are eligible to receive the relief cash out of a total population of over 48 million people in the country.

It should be noted that on Sunday revealed that government plans to send a cash token to all vulnerable Ugandans in what she termed as a COVID-19 relief plan.

Nabbanja revealed earlier this week that among the sources of information they intend to use is the mobile money transaction history data from telecommunications companies, to be able to determine who is eligible to get this support.

“Vulnerable people are known, you can’t tell me that you are vulnerable when you have been receiving millions of shillings via your mobile money line. We shall not give this money to anybody who has ever received Five hundred thousand shillings (500,000/=) and beyond on his mobile money line.”

Nabanja added that although the whole country is expecting to receive this money, only few who are in areas where there is no food will be given the first priority.

“I call upon people in case you have food in plenty don’t wait to throw it away but give it out to your neighbours who are needy.”

Besides, the PM said government will use other mechanisms like the NIRA data base and Information from Uganda Bureau of Statics (UBOS) to determine the beneficiaries.

The government however did not specify when the covid-19 relief cash will start to be distributed as a cabinet meeting awaits to pass the suggestion raised.