Uganda govt distributes food during lockdown

Ugandan officials on Saturday donated food to vulnerable people living in the metropolitan area of Kampala, which is under lockdown.

Social distancing measures put millions out of jobs in the East African country, including casual labourers, taxi drivers and others working hand-to-mouth.

Uganda's Prime Minister Ruhakana Rugunda gave a speech at one food delivery saying the food relief was for "those who have been badly hit" by the freedom of movement restrictions.

The door-to-door food distribution targeting 1.5 million people, had been halted by the parliamentary speaker, who wanted authorities to commit to a nation-wide arrangement before the start of relief efforts in Kampala.

She was overruled.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni in a speech on Friday suggested there wasn't enough money to help everyone, saying food donation is not an exercise in poverty reduction.

The food distribution was launched in the Kampala suburb of Bwaise, which has a substantial population of the urban poor.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks.

For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia and death.

The vast majority of people recover.