Many city traders ignorant of presidential stimulus package

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Several city traders are ignorant about the stimulus package announced by the president to boost small enterprises after the 42-day lockdown induced by the second wave of COVID-19.

While lifting the lockdown, President Yoweri Museveni directed Bank of Uganda and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development to find Shillings 100billion from the government coffers as well as work with willing private financial institutions to raise another Shillings 100billion to raise the stimulus package to support the small enterprises mitigate the effects of COVID-19.

However, it is now three weeks since the president issued the directives. Recently, the Minister of State for Trade, David Bahati said the money was available and they were still working out modalities of disbursing it to the intended beneficiaries.

Despite this, several traders interviewed by URN seemed ignorant about the stimulus and didn’t seem to care with many saying it may not serve the intended objective. Juliet Mukasa, a trader at Superior Arcade says the stimulus package wouldn’t be a bad idea.

She however says that given the bureaucracy involved in government projects, the money may not benefit them. According to Mukasa, unlike banks where she can easily access a loan, accessing the stimulus package may take forever like the Emyooga fund.

Another trader who only identified herself as Muramuzi, said that she has not heard about the proposed government stimulus package. She explained that none of their leaders or neighbours has spoken to her about the proposed stimulus package.

Jane Muwanguzi, another trader also says that he had not heard about the stimulus package just like many other government programs.

Thaddeus Musoke, the acting chairperson of the Kampala City Trader’s Association- KACITA told URN that they have written to the government seeking for a meeting with all traders to explain to them how they will administer and manage the stimulus package to avoid past incidents, where such funds were mismanaged.

Our plea is to be allowed to work with the government to make sure that money goes to the rightful people because we know our members and the real target group they intend to serve but we have not met them not even a single time

However, Patrick Ocailap, the Deputy Secretary to the Treasury told URN that they were still resolving some things with the other stakeholders.

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URN