“Before COVID-19, many families were already facing difficult conditions. The pandemic is exposing these existing vulnerabilities and making them worse,” said Kayemba.
Local leaders in Gulu said the cash injection would stimulate local economic activities since many residents were struggling to fend for their livelihoods.
According to the design of the project, beneficiaries do not need to register themselves to be eligible for the programme but are identified through the socio-economic data of the telecommunication companies targeting the poorest areas in each city to ensure fairness and equity.
The would-be beneficiaries are then contacted and asked for their consent through SMS messages, automated calls or call centre agents. Founded in 2009, GiveDirectly ranked a top international charity organization having already delivered over $260 million in cash directly into the hands of over 270,000 households living in poverty across the world.
Lira's vulnerable receive Shs 100,000 each COVID funds
According to statistics from the ministry of Health, Uganda has 1,297 cumulative cases of COVID-19 with nine deaths and 1,137 recoveries, as of Monday, August 10.
“Before COVID-19, many families were already facing difficult conditions. The pandemic is exposing these existing vulnerabilities and making them worse,” said Kayemba.
He added that direct cash transfers supported by MTN and Airtel telecommunication companies can have a rapid and profound impact in this time of crisis to help these families make ends meet and avoid falling further into poverty.
The team met local leaders in Gulu where they consulted to enrol four parishes yet to be nominated to benefit from the innovative project. Edward Kiwanuka, the interim Gulu city town clerk described the program as “too good to be true.”
John Charles Luwa, the interim Gulu city economic planner says there are several parishes in the newly created city that are very vulnerable thus such a programme would stimulate increased economic activities. There are currently 34 parishes that make Gulu city.
Raphael Magezi, the minister for Local Government described the availability of the grant as an important moment for vulnerable Ugandans in the newly created cities who are struggling to fend for their livelihoods.
According to the design of the project, Ugandans do not need to register themselves to be eligible for the programme but will be identified through the socio-economic data of the telecommunication companies targeting the poorest areas in each city to ensure fairness and equity.
Cell phone subscribers who live in the selected vulnerable parishes of the cities will be contacted, asked for their consent, and then offered a cash transfer or through SMS messages, automated calls or call centre agents.
Founded in 2009, GiveDirectly ranked a top international charity organization has delivered over $260 million in cash directly into the hands of over 270,000 households living in poverty across the world.
