The Ministry of Health has trashed rumors it handed over 2000 covid 19 vaccines to City tycoon Hamis Kigundu aka Ham of Ham Enterprises.

This is in response to an article by the Daily Monitor indicating that 2000 doses were given to the tycoon to vaccinate his workers and tenants.

Following the article, the public criticized the MOH for illegally selling vaccines to the business tycoon.

A section of the public doted back to the donation of 530 million that Ham gave to the Office of the Prime Minister to boost vaccination countrywide.

Ham donated shs530 million to the Covid task force to help in the procurement of vaccines.

In a statement by the Ministry of Health spokesperson, Emmanuel Ainebyoona he agrees to the ministry distributing the vaccines because Ham mobilized vulnerable persons.

“On July 3, 2021, Hamis Kiggundu, a Kampala Businessman, volunteered to mobilize eligible people among the business community for vaccination by transporting them and ensuring that all COVID-19 SOPs are fully adhered to. This act of kindness to support the COVID-19 vaccination exercise is in no way linked to the donation that he offered. It should be noted that Mr. Kiggundu’s contribution will be merged with the efforts of the Government to procure additional vaccines, a process that is underway.”

Ainebyoona has however trashed reports MOH sold vaccines for money.

“The Ministry would like to emphasize that all COVID-19 vaccines administered in Uganda are free of charge. In the same vein, we appeal to the media fraternity to adhere to factual reporting rather than misinforming the public.”

He further explains that the MOH gave out the vaccines because of the lockdown

“Due to the ongoing lockdown, a measure instituted to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the country, there has been a general low turn up for vaccination in Kampala Capital City. This, therefore, prompted the Ministry of Health to adjust the rollout plan and allocate more vaccines to Wakiso District where most of the people in Kampala reside,” Ainebyoona said in the statement.

He says similar vaccination outreach exercises have been carried out at various office premises including Uganda Revenue Authority, IGG, and the Uganda National Oil Company among others.