• Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Donate
  • Login
Watchdog Uganda
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News
No Result
View All Result
Watchdog Uganda
No Result
View All Result

DENIS JJUUKO: Let people buy their radio sets and face masks

watchdog by watchdog
5 years ago
in #Out2Lunch, Op-Ed
3 0
Denis Jjuuko

Denis Jjuuko

ShareTweetSendShare

When COVID-19 struck, the government promised some people food and indeed some households got. It somewhat showed a government that cared for its people even though the distribution was bogged. Even the biggest economy in the world, the United States, gave its citizens something with adults getting checks of US$1200 and children US$600.

In Uganda, there were arguments that instead of food, people should have received money on their phones to boost spending to restart the economy.

From free food, we were told of free face masks for everyone above six years old. Like it was with food, many people have never received their free face masks. Then last week, the government promised free radio and TV sets to enable kids to learn during the lockdown or enable politicians campaign now that the electoral commission is talking of campaigns carried over the airwaves. Ugandans are supposed to go to the polls next February. The newspapers said 10 million radio sets will be distributed each costing Shs38,000 or approximately US$10.

Ugandan governments since independence have run a mixed economy. Providing free medical care in government hospitals and free education. With Universal Primary Education (UPE), a child can study for free up to university. Many farmers today receive agricultural inputs in seeds and other stuff to boost their income. I think some progressive farmers have made significant progress taking advantage of these freebies though the majority have remained dependent on the seeds.

A face mask on average in Kampala costs Shs2,000, which is less than a US dollar. Even when the economy has been shut down during the COVID-19 pandemic, we should assume that the majority of people should be able to buy themselves a mask that costs that much. If they can’t and therefore need to be given free ones, then there is a major problem we need to address.

There is a famous saying sometimes attributed to the Chinese that posits that it is more important to teach people how to fish than giving them fish. With face masks and free radios and everything free, we are giving people fish when they can fold their sleeves, get on a canoe and catch the fish themselves. If they learn how to fish, they can always get themselves what to eat. If we give them fish, they will be looking at us every few days even when the lake full of fish is just in their courtyard.

We have had many poverty alleviation campaigns for many decades now, it is time to assess their impact. If these campaigns have had any impact, we shouldn’t be now thinking about giving out free masks and now free radio sets. Many years ago, people may have lacked TV sets (like they still do today) but most households had radio sets. How come today they must be given free ones?

We should campaign less on giving people free stuff rather enable them to afford the basics of life. We should ensure that any household that needs a radio set worth approximately US$10 can have it by buying it themselves. The same applies to the face masks.

This can be done easily by creating markets for mainly agricultural produce because the majority of Ugandans depend on agriculture. Many years ago, if you moved into an area where people, for example, grew coffee, you would find either a coffee factory or a store. It meant that people in that area had somewhere to sell their produce. Many people when they needed anything, they could simply present their delivery notes for credit just in case the factories hadn’t paid yet. People took their kids to expensive schools because of coffee and other cash crops. This is something that could be done again.

The money that has been spent on free face masks and what will be spent on radio sets is approximately Shs500 billion. There are 134 districts in Uganda today. This means that Shs3.7 billion or approximately US$1 million per district. This is enough money to set up a project at least in one of the district sub-counties that can significantly, if well managed, change the lives of the ‘vulnerable poor’ in that area.

If we continue tuning the mindset of the poor that everything will be given to them, nothing will change. The dreams we have of a middle-income country will remain just that — dreams. Of course, there could be people who benefit when people are so poor but we should not forget that the poor are the same people who will be used to challenge those who are currently benefiting from them.

The writer is a communication and visibility consultant. djjuuko@gmail.com


Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
ShareTweetSendShare

Related Posts

President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
News

PHILLIP R. ONGADIA: Father! Arbitrate or Else Fire Will Scorch the House

27th May 2025 at 19:31
Dr. Ayub Mukisa (Ph.D.)
Conversations with

Dr. Ayub Mukisa: In Karamoja, Unless the issue of Alcoholism is addressed, the region will fall further behind

26th May 2025 at 09:12
Conversations with

BWANIKA JOSEPH; The Rising Tide of Road Accidents in Uganda needs a Collaborative Action

26th May 2025 at 09:08
Next Post
Mr James Ebitu, Permanent Secretary at Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development

None of our officials has swindled Shs5 billion from UNCC- Ministry of Gender dismisses allegations 

  • Prostitution in Uganda- Courtesy Photo

    10 dangerous hotspots known for prostitutes in Kampala

    1020 shares
    Share 408 Tweet 255
  • Sudhir’s son Rajiv Ruparelia perishes in fatal motor accident 

    50 shares
    Share 20 Tweet 13
  • Has Billionaire Sudhir Ruparelia Replaced Rajiv with Sister Sheena in Managing the Ruparelia Group of Companies?

    19 shares
    Share 8 Tweet 5
  • Why Would Rajiv Ruparelia Be Cremated on Tuesday?

    15 shares
    Share 6 Tweet 4
  • Retired civil servant reaps big from coffee farming, credits President Museveni’s visionary leadership 

    13 shares
    Share 5 Tweet 3
Facebook Twitter

Contact Information

Watchdog Uganda is a portal for solution journalism, trending news plus cutting edge commentaries in the fields of politics, security, business, tourism, entertainment, technology, agriculture, climate change, environment, public health et al. We also give preference to Ugandan community news and topical discussions. The portal also publishes community news and topical discussions.

Email: editorial@watchdoguganda.com
To Advertise:Click here

Latest News

Tips for casino beginners – what to look out for in slots

27th May 2025 at 22:49

Casino Showdowns: Why the Thrill of Player vs Player Is the Next Big Thing in Online Gambling

27th May 2025 at 22:45

Check out

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
Minister Muruli Mukasa

LIST: New salary structure for civil servants starting July 2020 out; scientists, lecturers get juicy pay rise

24th May 2020 at 10:45
Pregnant woman

Shock as 17-year old boy impregnates his two sisters during Covid-19 lockdown 

17th June 2020 at 08:17
Sudhir Ruparelia has dominated the Uganda rich list for more than a decade

Billionaire Sudhir’s wisdom on how to invest in real estate

0

How a boy’s destiny turned from cotton grower to communications guru

0

Tips for casino beginners – what to look out for in slots

27th May 2025 at 22:49

Casino Showdowns: Why the Thrill of Player vs Player Is the Next Big Thing in Online Gambling

27th May 2025 at 22:45

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • National
    • Politics
    • World News
    • Media Outreach Newswire
    • Africa News
    • Tourism
    • Community News
    • Luganda
    • Sports
      • Football
      • Motorsport
  • Op-Ed
    • #Out2Lunch
    • Conversations with
    • Politics
    • Relationships
  • Business
    • Agriculture
    • CEOs & Entrepreneurs,
    • Companies
    • Finance
    • Products
    • RealEstate
    • Technology
  • Entertainment
    • Lifestyle
  • People
    • Showbiz
      • Salon Mag
  • Special Report
    • Education
    • Voices
  • Reviews
    • Products
    • Events
    • Hotels
    • Restaurants
    • Places
  • WD-TV
  • Donate
  • China News

© 2025 Watchdog Uganda