Mr. Geoffrey Oloya, who was the first recipient of government’s COVID-19 relief cash yesterday appeared before Gulu City authorities to dispel all falsehoods that having been labelling him as “ghost” recipient of the relief money.
Oloya, a resident of Gulu City, first shot to prominence when the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabanja, made a call to him as the first recipient of the special fund.
This special fund was intended for the low income earners whose places of work were within the central business districts of cities and municipalities across the country.
However, the facts around Oloya took an unfortunate turn when reports circulated claiming that Oloya had never been a boda boda rider and that he was unknown in Gulu.
A group of Members of Parliament claimed that Oloya registered as a Boda Boda rider, yet he works with the office of the Gulu City Mayor. He was also disowned by the Boda Boda Association in Gulu City.
Speaking during a probe last week, the Gulu City clerk, Moses Otimango said they have no person called Oloya in their records. Oloya’s phone contacts being off also made the attempts to bring him to book futile.
According to a press release issued by the Communications Officer for the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development, Frank Mugabi, Oloya after hearing all the bad publicity around him presented himself to authorities in his division of residence to set the facts straight.
He confirmed that he is indeed a Boda Boda rider and that he received both the money and the famous telephone call from the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Nabbanja.
“I have been busy in my garden in Nyamukino village, Lumulu sub-county at the far end of Nwoya district, where network is very poor and that is the reason my line has been unreachable,” Oloya revealed.
“I first heard of the falsehoods around my name last week when members of Parliament came to Gulu. I felt so embrassed because I am a vulnerable person and do Boda Boda riding within Gulu City.”Oloya added.
Oloya also revealed the process he went through to receive the COVID-19 cash.
“When I heard of the COVID-19 cash, I followed the procedures and got registered. I later received the money and immediately bought seeds of soya and rice which I went to plant in my garden. This is where the unfortunate news found me,” he said.
Oloya described the reports that labelled him as a “ghost recipient” as unfortunate.
According to Mugabi, by today afternoon, Oloya was able to file his documents proving the facts as true to the Gulu local authorities including the Resident District Commissioner and representatives from the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.