Child Fund reprograms budget to hand out cash to households

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Child Fund International has disbursed  1.4 billion Shillings to nine of its partners to make cash transfers to 29,000 households because of the COVID-19 lockdown.

Moses Otai, the Country Director Child Fund says their country office decided to reallocate the available funds to respond to the emerging needs of vulnerable households in the communities they serve in 28 districts across the country.

He says the money was meant for education, health and livelihood programs for May and April this year. Otai said since they are not implementing the projects they have decided to support the households that have been greatly affected by the lockdown.

He reveals that they will disburse the money to the households through mobile money, banks and other appropriate platforms available to the families. According to Otai, rural households will receive Shillings 50,000 while urban households will receive 100,000 Shillings.

“This contribution to vulnerable households is intended to enable families to access immediate hygiene kits including hand washing facilities as well as meet the basic needs in the households. Child Fund has also been supporting awareness efforts on prevention and control of COVID-19 through messages aired on different media platforms across the country.” Otai said.

Asked for how long the support is supposed to take the households, Otai said that for now it is for a month and hopefully they will review the process to see what next. “The endeavors are part of our response to complement the government of Uganda actions in responding to COVID-19 including supporting the most vulnerable families,” he adds.

The implementing partners are Acholi Child and Family Program in Gulu, Masindi Child Development Federation, Lango Child and Community Development Federation, Community Efforts for Child Empowerment in Kiboga, and Kampala Area Federation of Communities.

Others are Jinja Area Communities Federation in Jinja, Partners for Children Worldwide in Soroti, Mbale Area Federation of Communities in Mbale and Busia Area Communities Federation.

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