On Wednesday, Hon Judith Nabakooba, the Minister of Information and Communications Technology responded to social media reports that food being distributed by the government is of poor quality.

Nabakooba told journalists that she had visited a number of households in Kawempe and Bwaise who got the beans to get first-hand feedback and dispel the harmful propaganda being spread by a section of people who she referred to as ‘misguided and selfish personalities.’

The beneficiaries of the food relief items, according to the minister are satisfied with what was given to them. She disputed claims that the beans were affected by weevils or had foreign bodies such as stones, wood, glass and metals as portrayed by social media photograph’s that went viral over the weekend.

The Minister also displayed to the media milk being issued to the residents as opposed to reports by some politicians that there was no milk in the distribution list, or that empty tins had been issued to people.

“We would like to appeal to the public to disregard those social media posts aimed at discrediting the good works of government to its people and discouraging the intended beneficiaries from receiving the support aimed at helping them go through the partial lockdown period as we fight the spread of COVID-19,” the minister said.

Nabakooba also questioned the motive of the people who are trying to mislead Ugandans and warned the people behind the malicious propaganda being propagated on social media and threatened to be apprehended once caught.

“Once found, they will be prosecuted,” she said.

“Please desist from the misuse of social media and use it positively to share official messages from government and other relevant bodies such as World Health Organization so that the population is fed on the information needed to fight coronavirus,” Nabakooba said.