Mbarara residents face off with RDC over COVID-19 food
Residents claimed they were surviving on water every day since those who were distributing relief food did not give them their share.
Residents of Nyakaizi cell, Kakoba division in Mbarara municipality on Monday morning stormed the offices of Vision Group in Mbarara saying they were tired of sleeping on an empty stomach every night.
They claimed they were surviving on water every day since those who were distributing relief food did not give them their share.
They, therefore, decided to face off with the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Mbarara, Lt. Col. James Mwesigye. who was being hosted in Owakutangaheru programme on Radio West.
Those who came included saloon operators, porters and boda boda cyclists.
Bosco Taremwa who was working in one of the hardware shops in Mbarara town and father of four children said he had turned into a beggar because he could not feed his family since he no longer works.
Taremwa said he has been feeding his children on guava fruits donated by his neighbor. However, the fruits had also been depleted.
"I don't know who was registering those who received food because we never received anything. They were distributing the food secretly. So I am here to see what the RDC will tell us because the situation is not good at all," said Taremwa.
Godwin Nasasira, a resident of Nyakaizi and a father of four children, said at the time of the lockdown he had only sh50,000 and all of it was now done.
Nasasira said that before the lockdown, he was working as a porter at one of the construction sites in Mbarara but the exercise was stopped.
He said the distribution of food by the Mbarara district COVID-19 taskforce was not done well as many vulnerable people were left out.
"When the truck of food came to our area, it was guarded by UPDF officers. When we started ascending to it, we were chased by security. In the whole cell only 40 people got food and when we tried to ask, they chased us," said Nasasira.
He added: "We have nothing to eat. I am about to run away from my family because I cannot feed them anymore."
After the radio programme, Mwesigye referred the group back to the respective LCs and be registered.
"Go back to your cell and get registered because we pick lists from your local leaders. I cannot lie to you that I am going to give you food now," Mwesigye said.
They left for their respective homes disappointed since the RDC did not give them bags of posho as they had anticipated.