Covid-19: Hungry Man Collapses to Death in Namuwongo

A man only identified as Kanyamunyu has collapsed to death in a suspected case of extreme hunger. Kanyamunyu, a porter in Industrial area, collapsed from Kasanvu zone, Namuwongo in Makindye Division, a suburb of Kampala.

Richard Biresho, the area Chairperson, says that Kanyamunyu breathed his last at his office around 7pm on Monday where he had pitched camp asking for food relief on grounds that he was starving.

Biresho says that the deceased looked frail, weak and emaciated an indication that he could have gone days without food. 

According to Biresho, the deceased stopped working when the government imposed the 42-day lock-down in the effort to combat the spread of COVID-19.

He explains that many people are flocking his office for relief support because of starvation, saying that many people could start dying in their homes.  

Herbert Nionzima, a resident says that when the deceased collapsed they immediately informed the police.

He, however, says that when the officers arrived, they couldn’t put him on their patrol and rush him to the hospital fearing that he could be a Coronavirus patient.

He explains that they waited for an ambulance, which arrived after 2 hours when the man was already dead.  

Innocent Mpima, another resident is worried that more people will die of starvation if the government does not do something or allow them to resume work.

Joseph Karugaba, the Officer in charge Kisugu police post, which is under Kabalagala police station said they are waiting for the postmortem from Mulago city mortuary to establish the cause of death.

While announcing the 42 day’s lockdown on June 18, President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni tasked the Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja to work out modalities of send COVID-19 relief support to vulnerable people in urban centres.

He said 54 billion Shillings had been earmarked for the exercise.

The targeted beneficiaries include taxi and Bodaboda operators, bar attendants, gym instructors and single mothers among others.

Each vulnerable person is expected to get receive Shillings 100, 000 via mobile money.  However, almost three weeks after the OPM is yet to disburse the money because of technicalities.

Recently, the OPM indicated that the money would be disbursed starting today.