Make sure relief money ends up in the right hands

Reading in the media that two million Ugandans will receive relief cash from government got me thinking and left me almost convinced that we just have to take a leap of faith on this particular intervention.

I think this is actually a much better intervention by government if only it was well-planned. I think it would have worked even in the last lockdown because I am sure  the exercise of food  distribution was more costly  than the actual  purchase of the beans and posho. 

This project reminded me about my childhood. There was a woman in my village, Kigarama, who used to go around registering  orphans promising  assistance from some good Samaritans. 

She registered our names, took our photos and told us to wait for goodies meant for vulnerable orphans in the village. We waited in vain. Later on, we got information that the goodies had come but had been taken advantage of by those who were better connected to this powerful woman. 

In secondary school, I was staying  at an aunt’s place in a nearby village.  There was a powerful man (community leader) who came to my aunt’s place and told me that there was an opportunity for beddings for vulnerable orphans and it would be good if my name was included since according to him I was also vulnerable. 

Just like the woman, this man also registered my name and asked me for a passport photo. Again, the promised items were never received.  I came to learn later on that the items had been sent but were being used by the man’s children. 

When I remember these childhood ordeals of a vulnerale orphan, I feel sorry for  those that are now being termed as the vulnerable poor who are eagerly waiting for relief cash from government. 

My LC1 chairperson made matters worse when he recently came to my house asking for my full name and copy of my national ID.  When I asked what he wanted them for, he said he was compiling a list of people who were supposed to receive relief money from government. I asked him why he wanted me on the list yet I am a rich man and not vulnerable in any way. He laughed and said they were including everyone in the area. 

I advised him to only include those whose survival is threatened and off he went. What I don’t know is whether he also approached my “rich” neighbour.

I see the actual vulnerable Ugandans not getting this support. I see some rich people getting this money at the expense of the actual vulnerable poor. I also see some distributors of the cash, ending up taking it for themselves. 

I also see some some ‘big people’ using this as an opportunity to steal some more money. In short, I see this Covid relief money for the vulnerable Ugandans not serving it’s purpose if government doesn’t ensure efficiency.

Mr Alexander Kyokwijuka is from Kigarama, Ndorwa East.