Lockdown relief fund has been set aside for ailing local businesses, according to Amos Lugolobi, the state minister for planning.

The lockdown relief follows the ailing situation in the country after the country has had to impose two lockdowns in space of two years to fight Covid-19.

Lugolobi who read this financial year budget in absence of a confirmed minister of finance, planning and economic affairs confirmed the lockdown relief fund while appearing on NBS TV Tuesday night.

The minister confirmed a lockdown relief fund of one hundred billion (Shs100Bn) for micro and macro businesses in the country.

Lugolobi who is also MP for Ntenjeru North, said: “This time round, we are packaging relief fund for the micro and macro businesses. We are planning UGX 100 billion.”

The minister was responding to Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago’s fears about the fate of businesses which he said were ‘completely collapsed’.

Lukwago warned: “As of today, the businesses have completely collapsed.”

Lord Mayor raised a red flag on rent: “There’s a concept in law of contract called force majeure which translates that when there is an act of God like COVID19 that frustrates the agreement, then a contract can’t be enforced. Landlords should leave the tenants.”

Lugolobi poured cold water on his fears: “There has to be another credit relief to help the landlords. We urge the landlords to be sympathetic with the tenants.”

On vaccines, the minister said: “We have the money but it has become very hard for us to acquire the vaccines. We want at least 22 million people to be vaccinated.”

The country is anxiously waiting for President Yoweri Museveni’s address on Saturday after 42 days of lockdown he imposed to ease alarming cases of Covid-19 in the country then.

The minister of health Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng while addressing the country on national broadcaster UBC calmed fears when she confirmed that there had been a recommendable reduction on Covid-19 cases, averaging 290 a day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fps_cEfout8