By Herbert Anderson Burora, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner (RCC) for Rubaga Division, has issued a warning to ministers who have taken COVID-19 pickups for personal use.
Aurora has given them 30 days to return the pickups or face public humiliation. Burora emphasized the president’s 2020 call for Ugandans to collaborate in enhancing health services, even in the wake of the pandemic.
The directive comes amid reports of misuse and misallocation of vehicles meant for the improvement of health services in the country during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 30-day countdown began on June 1st, and ministers and chairpersons are on notice to comply with the directive or face public exposure for their alleged misuse of resources meant for the health sector.
“It is disturbing that cars meant for improving the health sector are doing shopping and dropping their children to school,” Burora noted.
He highlighted concern about rumors that several ministry departments and regions are experiencing a lack of mobility and that cars meant to be utilized for personal errands are being diverted from their original purpose in the health sector.
He also disclosed that some cars meant for health response had been seized by chairpersons of the Local Council (LC) 5, which left District Health Officers without the tools they needed to do their jobs.
In the health sector, he stressed the need to respect the vehicles’ intended use and make sure they are deployed where they are most needed.
The demand for accountability is a reflection of a broader belief that public needs should come before personal convenience for those in positions of authority. “If they are not withdrawn by the end of the month, we shall name the ministers and chairpersons who are wrongfully abusing the initiative of the President,” Burora warned.
