As the COVID-19 (CoronaVirus) pandemic continues to surge around the world with cases raising at an unstoppable rate, more countries are going into lockdown.
In a recent Presidential National address on COVID-19 by the president of Uganda, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, he imposed measures ranging from shutting schools, suspending religious and public gatherings to suspending the use of public means (an act seen as an indirect lockdown), among others. Majority of people resorted to staying at home with only limited trips that their feet can permit.
This indirect lockdown has already disproportionately hurt marginalized communities due to lack of food and other basic needs. This prompted Pastor Solomon Mwesige, a lead Pastor at Good News Church Bulenga and a President of Feed The Hungry East Africa to give out food to the Community. Pastor Solomon has been giving food to refugee settlement camps in Kiryandongo (Western Uganda) and Rwamwanja (Kamwenge District) for over 14years. He has however faced various challenges including high taxes imposed by Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) on clearing the food containers although the food contained is given out for free and benefits the government of Uganda.
In a recent media interview on KSTV, Pr. Solomon appealed to the Government of Uganda to consider a tax cut or exempt his food containers from taxes something that would disproportionately benefit bigger communities.
Thank you very much Pr Solomon and Doreen,,..so how can someone who wants to get some rice do it ???
Hello Mr. Mwamula Enock, where are you located?