Probe IDPs food rationing â€" PM
Jul 27, 2006
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has ordered a probe into the reducing food rations given to internally displaced persons (IDPs), yet they have not started growing their own food.
By Cyprian Musoke
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has ordered a probe into the reducing food rations given to internally displaced persons (IDPs), yet they have not started growing their own food.
This followed concerns raised by MPs on the presidential committee, that IDPs risk starving after the World Food programme (WFP) rations were drastically cut in a bid to have the IDPs return to the villages.
Relief and disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere told the MPs that acting on the advice of district disaster management committees, WFP cut back on rations so that IDPs return home.
Chua MP Okello Okello and Gulu Woman MP Betty Ochan wondered whether starving the IDPs was the only way to have them return to the villages, which too had no food.
In his response, Nsibambi observed that the IDPs had not yet started growing their own food and ordered Kabwegyere and relief and disaster preparedness state minister Musa Eceru to investigate the matter.
“This is a matter of life and death. The question raised by Hon. Okello that WFP has reduced rations should be investigated. Some times they reduce rations when the people have started growing their own food, but these ones have not,†he said.
He said WFP does not operate singly, but was here at the invitation of the Government to supplement its efforts.
He said he would tour the north when the LRA talks wind up, to hold talks with religious, traditional and political leaders to address the IDP issues ‘once and for all’.
About concerns raised by Abdu Kitatta and Ruth Tuma that activities of NGOs in the north were chaotic and uncoordinated, Nsibambi said, “Many NGOs are doing a good job but there are wrong doers. How do we eliminate the wrong doers? By knowing how much money they get and how they use it.â€
Committee chairperson Mary Karooro Okurut urged the Prime Minister to insist on accountability from the NGOs, to make coordination easy.
Present were First Deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya, general duties minister Adolph Mwesige, Luweero state minister Nyombi Thembo and Permanent Secretary Martin Odwedo.
Nsibambi warned people intending to take advantage of the plight of IDPs to misappropriate ironsheets for their re-settlement that they would be ‘punished in a way they will never forget’.
He disagreed with MPs that the department of Luweero Triangle had outlived its usefulness and should be scrapped, saying the triangle was devastated physically and emotionally thus requires more assistance.
Nsibambi said the NUSAF management unit had improved its financial management and was installing a computerised accounting package to speed up the process of disbursements.
Okello had said IDPs were now getting half-a-kilo of beans down from 2kg per person per month and 7kg of posho from 11kg per person. He said soya porridge for children and cooking oil had been eliminated.
Ends
Prime Minister Prof. Apolo Nsibambi has ordered a probe into the reducing food rations given to internally displaced persons (IDPs), yet they have not started growing their own food.
This followed concerns raised by MPs on the presidential committee, that IDPs risk starving after the World Food programme (WFP) rations were drastically cut in a bid to have the IDPs return to the villages.
Relief and disaster preparedness minister Prof. Tarsis Kabwegyere told the MPs that acting on the advice of district disaster management committees, WFP cut back on rations so that IDPs return home.
Chua MP Okello Okello and Gulu Woman MP Betty Ochan wondered whether starving the IDPs was the only way to have them return to the villages, which too had no food.
In his response, Nsibambi observed that the IDPs had not yet started growing their own food and ordered Kabwegyere and relief and disaster preparedness state minister Musa Eceru to investigate the matter.
“This is a matter of life and death. The question raised by Hon. Okello that WFP has reduced rations should be investigated. Some times they reduce rations when the people have started growing their own food, but these ones have not,†he said.
He said WFP does not operate singly, but was here at the invitation of the Government to supplement its efforts.
He said he would tour the north when the LRA talks wind up, to hold talks with religious, traditional and political leaders to address the IDP issues ‘once and for all’.
About concerns raised by Abdu Kitatta and Ruth Tuma that activities of NGOs in the north were chaotic and uncoordinated, Nsibambi said, “Many NGOs are doing a good job but there are wrong doers. How do we eliminate the wrong doers? By knowing how much money they get and how they use it.â€
Committee chairperson Mary Karooro Okurut urged the Prime Minister to insist on accountability from the NGOs, to make coordination easy.
Present were First Deputy Prime Minister Eriya Kategaya, general duties minister Adolph Mwesige, Luweero state minister Nyombi Thembo and Permanent Secretary Martin Odwedo.
Nsibambi warned people intending to take advantage of the plight of IDPs to misappropriate ironsheets for their re-settlement that they would be ‘punished in a way they will never forget’.
He disagreed with MPs that the department of Luweero Triangle had outlived its usefulness and should be scrapped, saying the triangle was devastated physically and emotionally thus requires more assistance.
Nsibambi said the NUSAF management unit had improved its financial management and was installing a computerised accounting package to speed up the process of disbursements.
Okello had said IDPs were now getting half-a-kilo of beans down from 2kg per person per month and 7kg of posho from 11kg per person. He said soya porridge for children and cooking oil had been eliminated.
Ends