Money donated by dialing an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) code will be channelled through the Uganda Red Cross Society - the country’s leading humanitarian organisation - to those in need, local newspaper New Vision said, citing comments by MTN Uganda’s chief executive Wim Vanhelleputte in an interview.

“MTN Uganda will continue to look at ways of supporting our communities and government, to ensure that together, we do everything feasible to get through this difficult time,” Vanhelleputte said.

The East Africa country now has 52 confirmed cases of Covid-19, although there have been no fatalities linked to the novel coronavirus.

Red Cross Society Uganda secretary-general Robert Kwesiga said the donations would be used to procure essential food assistance for disadvantaged families unable to buy their own due to the disruptions to informal employment caused by a lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the disease, online publication The Brink reported.

The restrictions enforced by President Yoweri Museveni's government last month prohibit the movement of people and have seen the closure of non-essential businesses, while giving strict guidelines for public transport operators.

“The food distribution shall continue on a rolling basis all through the period during which people are restricted to their homes due to the partial lockdown period," The Brink quoted Kwesiga as saying.

"At a later date, an early recovery livelihood intervention programme shall be instituted after the Covid-19 pandemic is controlled to support the affected vulnerable households bounce back to normal, dignified lives."

Kwesiga said for the sake of transparency, the Red Cross would each week publish details of donations and areas where there was still a need for assistance.

African News Agency