COVID-19 Relief Registration: Residents Accuse VHTs of Confiscating Their National IDs

Several vulnerable members in Kamuli municipality are accusing some members of Village Health Teams-VHTs of confiscating their national identity cards after registering them for the COVID-19 relief funds. 

The complainants say that only those who promise to share the fund with the VHTs as a means of appreciating them for being included on the final list of beneficiaries, get their national identity cards. 

Stella Naigaga, a saloon operator says that one of the VHTs confiscated her national ID under unclear circumstances.

“They registered me alongside my other five workmates but after our 30 minute’s engagement, the VHT member sped off with our IDs claiming that they were a requirement to expedite the release of the relief funds to the beneficiaries,” she said.

Musa Bakaki, a bar attendant says there is need for the relevant government officials to issue clear guidelines to the VHTs on their role in the registration of the COVID-19 beneficiaries, arguing that most of them are overstepping their limits.

//Cue in: “VHT…   

Cue out…gyigyo,”//

Brian Waiswa, a car washing bay owner says that the process the registration of the beneficiaries is marred with extortion.  

//cue in: “buno obubaka… 


 

Cue out…government eno,”// 

Some of the VHTs who spoke to URN on condition of anonymity, says that the beneficiaries surrendered the IDs voluntarily as most of them did not know their National Identification Numbers-NINs.  Kamuli Resident District Commissioner, Robert Mutemo has promised to investigate the matter. 

An estimated 530,000 vulnerable households across the country are expected to receive Shillings 100,000 from the government to help them buy food to support their families throughout the lockdown period.