The government has allocated Shs373 billion towards fighting the second wave of Covid-19 in the country.
To meet the need, Finance minister Matia Kasaija has said they have suspended some activities in the upcoming financial year 2021/2022 Budget to cater for Covid-19 response.
“We are not going to borrow this money. We are going to suppress some activities that are not so important right now. People should learn to do things virtually,” he said on Tuesday, June 29, 2021.
Mr Kasaija said government had planned to allocate Shs600 billion towards Covid-19 response but they are only able to get Shs373 billion.
Mr Kasaija said the balance of Shs227 billion will be obtained at a later date. According to the allocations, the Health ministry has been allocated Shs206.4 billion, Security (Shs50b) and Local Government (Shs8.1b).
Security Minister Jim Muhwezi said their budget is slated to facilitate the army, police, prisons, Resident District Commissioners (RDCs), Immigration and Security services to enforce the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
“All the security forces are going to be involved to support health workers and other essential workers who work at night, protect properties of people and fight any criminality during the ongoing lockdown,” Gen Muhwezi said.
He added: “We guarantee this country security because we now have what is required to keep everyone safe.”
Government has shut down the economy in resonse to the deadly second wave of coronavirus (Covid-19) that keeps mutating and in the process, has claimed several lives since May 2021.