By Ambrose Gahene,
KWMPALA
Uganda People’s Congress (UPC) has raised a number of concerns over the current high cost of living, calling on Government to take immediate measures before the situation goes out of hand. While addressing journalists at the UPC Head office on Uganda House in Kampala, UPC spokesperson, Arach Oyat Sharon, said when the country and the rest of the world lifted the covid-19 lockdowns, Uganda initiated several recovery programs, allocated funds and expected to restore the economy as quickly as possible.
“However, this great optimism seems to be disappearing as each day the prices of our leading basic goods and services keep on rising, yet the real income of an ordinary person at a house-hold level has remained static or even not there at all due to job losses”, she said..
Ms. Arach said the socio-economic situation of hardships should not be allowed to persist for long as it has a potential of leading to extreme actions at a house hold level, which includes domestic violence. She said there is already a police record of domestic violence that has even claimed lives or maimed permanent injuries on Ugandans.
“Some of these cases are very much unfortunate and they are, in most cases linked to poverty”, she added.
She recommended that; the system of government subsidies ought to be considered in strategic sectors, especially on fuel as the engine of the economy.
“The subsidy on diesel for instance has a huge potential of lowering the prices of our agricultural produce and other goods”, she pointed out.
Muzeyi Faizo, the UPC Head of Media and Communications hinted on the current fire outbreaks in the country. He said the latest fire incident at St. Theresa Kisubi Girls Primary School along Entebbe road and that of Kasaana Junior School in Nyendo Masaka among others, are regrettable and deeply saddening as some pupils (Kasaana) lost their lives while others in critical conditions coupled with damage to property.
“UPC sympathies with the parents and school authorities over such tragedies and indeed these are difficult times. We send our heartfelt condolences to the families that lost their children due to fire outbreak at Kasaana Junior School. UPC urges Government and school authorities to compensate the families of the victims and assist all the affected pupils”, he said.
He said there is need to do thorough investigations and go to the root causes of such fire outbreaks as well as carrying out surgical interventions.
“There must be a physical routine inspection of all schools across the country to check on electrical installations, wiring and state of the buildings. Government should put in place an effective mechanism to ensure that schools meet the required basic standards and upgrade the facilities”, he added.
Mr. Faizo also recommended that each school should be encouraged to employ qualified electricians as well as risk managers.
“As for the markets, we expect them to offer better services since the Government through Local Councils is in direct ownership, control and management of the markets”, he further pointed out.
