Minister condemns police for blocking FDC food distribution
Some of the food that FDC party officials were to distribute to residents of Toroma County recently. PHOTO BY SIMON PETER EMWAMU
Soroti- The State minister for Relief and Disaster Preparedness has blamed the highhandedness of police during the aborted distribution of food relief in Toroma County, Katakwi District last week.
Addressing the press on the state of food crisis in eastern and northern region on Sunday, Mr Musa Ecweru said though he is not mandated to speak for police, their actions are regrettable.
He said when he read about the teargas in Toroma County on social media while he was in Zimbabwe, he called the commissioner in the ministry to intervene but he was helpless since FDC had not written to the ministry for authorisation to distribute food relief.
“All willing humanitarian agencies or parties have the right to distribute food, if they consult with the line ministry, the Ministry for Relief and Disaster Preparedness,” Mr Ecweru explained.
He added that FDC will be allowed to distribute food if they make arrangements with the Ministry for Relief and Disaster Preparedness in order to avoid duplication.
Mr Ecweru said in response to the crisis, government has by this week authorised the Ministry of Finance to release Shs10 billion towards the intervention of the worst affected regions of eastern and northern Uganda.
“This money will be used in phase responses to the plight of the people affected by food crisis,” he added.
Mr Ecweru said already food relief worth 200 metric tons has been delivered to Katakwi District and he will be overseeing it’s distribution soon.
However, Fr Francis Kayaye, the parish priest of Soroti Catholic Diocese, in his homily on Palm Sunday, equated the actions of the police to beasts, saying that it was unfortunate that starving masses were denied their right to receive food relief.
The chairperson Teso Parliamentary Group, Mr Patrick Okabe, also at the weekend, condemned the actions of police to deny the people of Toroma County food, saying: “Teso Parliamentary Group stands firm with the people of Teso in this trying moment.”
As a result of the prolonged drought, desperate families in eastern Uganda are being forced to sell assets and livestock to raise money for food.
Background
Last week, two people were injured as Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) supporters in Toroma County engaged in running battles with police after the East Kyoga regional police commander ordered for the dispersal of people who had gathered to receive relief food at Toroma Sub-county.
Dr Kizza Besigye, a former presidential candidate and a group of FDC members, had reached out to Toroma County to supply relief food, only to be blocked by police.
Mr Francis Tumwesigye, the acting RPC, told journalists that they needed to examine the food before they allow the FDC party members to distribute it.
