Mbarara LC1 chairpersons warned over mismanaging COVID-19 donation

COVID-19 | DONATION

The Mbarara RDC and leader of the district COVID-19 task force, Lt.Col. James Mwesigye has warned LC1 chairpersons in the district against diverting COVID-19 food donation to unintended groups.

Mwesigye told journalists that his office is getting information about LC1 leaders who bypass vulnerable people and give food to rich people.

He said all LC1 leaders were given guidelines on the category of people they should choose to receive the donation.

Mbarara is among the district that started distributing food donated by individuals and companies but some of the intended beneficiaries were complaining that they were sidelined by LC leaders.

Mwesigye vowed to arrest rich people who will receive such donations and LCs who registered them. "We told them to look at the vulnerable groups like disabled, slum dwellers, poor women, among others. If I find somebody who has distributed to rich people, I will arrest them," Mwesigye stated. 

He urged residents in the area to be very vigilant and report all the LC chairpersons involved in the misdistribution of food relief

He told journalists that since they started distributing food; about 2000 people have received the relief, adding that they intend to cover 4000 people considering the amount of food donation they received.

He called upon people who haven't received food to be patient, saying the process is ongoing.

Mwesigye sounded the warning while receiving 1.5 tonnes of maize flour donated by Muhame David Mushaba Foundation. 

David Mushaba, the executive director of the Foundation and Allan Tonix, a foundation member and renowned artist, handed over the donation to the task force on Tuesday.

Mushaba thanked the Mbarara district task force for preventing the spread of the disease.

Recently, the executive director of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Dr.Celestine Barigye said all the 100 suspects tested negative.

Tonix urged all Ugandans to abide by the guidelines set by the ministry of health and challenged his fellow artists to donate what they can.