World Food Day 2024: Food Scientists Make Urgent Call for Nutritional Awareness and Reform in Uganda
Shift Media News 
By Our Reporter
KAMPALA- SHIFTMEDIA- Earlier on Wednesday we unearthed in our investigative pages Shift Media News. how scores of vulnerable Ugandans missed out on the Government’s Covid 19 relief cash due to some few ‘corrupt’ data entrants.
The fire in Parliament towards Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja from Members of parliament over the same was erroneous on Wednesday afternoon.
The reaction was too much in the August House prompting Deputy Speaker Anita Annet Among who was chairing the session to adjourn the house until Wednesday July 21 at 2pm.
Though Premier delayed to come to the house as expected to explain government response towards the Covid 19 relief cash to Ugandans, she later appeared but most MPs described her presence as “unprepared”
Legislators demanded that her report be printed and handed over to all MPs before she presents.
After lengthy exchanges, Speaker directed that she prints the report for all MPs. Nabbanja had insisted that due to COVID 19 she rather protects the MPs by sending soft copies of the report on their emails.
The legislators however raised their concerns regarding lack of Ipads.
MPs react to beneficiaries of Covid 19 cash
Most of the MPs who spoke expressed dismay regarding how the “Nabbanja cash” was distributed. “Rt. Hon. Prime Minister who were the people who received this money? My people in Bugiri Municipality say they didn’t receive any money. Apparently the purported list from my constituency was from elsewhere,” said Hon Asuman Basalirwa (Bugiri Municipality)
Hon Gilbert Olanya (Kilak South- Amuru) said investigations had established that most vulnerable people from his area hadn’t received any money from government.
“In fact the person the Rt. Nabbanja called (Oloya), who received the cash first from Gulu said he wasn’t registered by any LC. He went straight to the RDCs office where he was registered” said Olanya.
He said it is only NRM cadres who benefited. This allegation was rejected by the Deputy Speaker and also denied by Hon Chris Baryomunsi the Minister for Information and National Guidance.
Though Baryomunsi and Government Chief Whip William Tayebwa put up a spirited fight to allow them respond to the issues raised, Speaker Anita Among said the entire discussion on Covid 19 issues would be discussed on Wednesday next week.
“I have rulled that all issues related to Covid 19 be handled on Wednesday. Rt. Hon Prime Minister come ready to answer all questions related to that including coming with the list of the beneficiaries,” ruled Among.
Nabbanja however asked for guidance regarding the privacy of the beneficiaries. “Hon Members you know we have a law on privacy. These lists have NIN and all information of beneficiaries, I need guidance on this matter,” she said.
Deputy Speaker however said that parliament have accountability committees who will scrutinize the list. “At one time we may need full accountability of these funds. The accountability committees of parliament have powers of the High Court, we can even have select sub committee to scrutinize the list,” said Among Anita Annet the Bukeddea Woman MP.
Dokolo Woman MP Cecelia Atim Ogwal had demanded earlier that Prime Minister hands over the list to all MPs through thei r pigeon holes to ease her work.
“Rt. Hon Prime Minister, the fact is that most of our people havent got this government money. We shall help you analyse the true beneficiaries if we get the list.” “The list has NIN I will check in Dokolo which people got this money so that by Wednesday when we return, you know whether the list they used was genuine or fake” said Ogwal.
Nabbanja described the cash distribution as “corruption free”. “The money came from Finance, Bank of Uganda to Post Bank then to the various Telecommunication firms, she said.
Other MPs who raised similar concerns included Mohammed Nsereko (Kampala Central),, Hon. Semuju Ibrahim Nganda (Kira), Hon Lutamaguzi (Nakaseke) among others.
