Arua city fails to access UGX 338M Covid-19 response funds

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Arua city Covid-19 taskforce is bitter over its failure to access Covid-19 response funds. The city council approved a budget of Shillings 338 million three months ago to facilitate the Covid-19 response.

Part of the money is meant for the allowance of VHTs involved in the Covid-19 fight, surveillance activities and rapid response team. However, the task force has failed to access the money to date.

In their 14th meeting, the members of Arua city Covid-19 taskforce expressed frustration over their failure to access their money. Dickson Adomati, the Deputy Arua Resident City Commissioner-RCC and chairperson of the City COVID-19 Taskforce said all efforts to know the whereabouts of the UGX 338 million have not yielded positive results.

He wonders why the district has been able to access and spend the money.

Some of the Taskforce members and VHTs in Arua City intimated that their morale to fight the pandemic has gone down due to lack of motivation.

Godfrey Apangu who represents the city clerk on the Covid-19 taskforce said the cash limit by the Ministry of Finance has made it difficult to access the money in full.

There are currently 18 active Covid-19 cases in the Covid-19 treatment unit at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.

The district has also registered 52 deaths and over 380 cases under home based care, which requires more effort to fight the pandemic.

******

URN