Over the weekend, Government started distributing food relief to the vulnerable groups of people identified by the National Task Force headed by Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda.
According to government, over 1.5 million people in Kampala will be served with six kilograms of maize flour, three kilograms of beans, and salt. Breastfeeding mothers and the sick are getting powdered milk and sugar.
Since the distribution started, there have been ill-meaning individuals on social media distributing false information that the food being distributed by a collaboration of security forces (Police, Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), and Local Defence Unit (LDU) officers) is poisonous.
This has prompted the UPDF to hold a press conference at the Uganda Media Centre to squash all the misinformation circulating on social media.
“There is no reason why poisoned food should be distributed or given to our people. So those who are going around on social media saying this food is poisonous are absolute liars, enemies of our people. We will continue supporting our people through these tough times,” UPDF Spokesperson Brig. Richard Karemire said today.
Karemire said that distribution of food will go on, and mentioned that over 2776 households have already been served their packages in Bwaise zones I, II, and III.
Government decided to offer food relief packages to people after millions were rendered jobless, moneyless, and foodless following the lockdown of the country last week by President Museveni to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country.
Currently, Uganda has 52 confirmed COVID-19 cases, after four people tested positive yesterday.