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Uganda’s finance ministry not giving free grants to entrepreneurs, farmers

A Facebook page claims that Uganda’s finance ministry, in partnership with the World Bank and other international organisations, is giving out financial grants to entrepreneurs and farmers in the country.

A 6 July post on the page reads: “The ministry has partnered with the World Bank and GEF to roll out an economic development program in the country by issuing Financial Grants worth US$51.4 million to all deserving entrepreneurs and farmers in the country.”

It claims this is to promote “local investment and entrepreneurship” during the Covid-19 pandemic, and advises that applicants must be Ugandan citizens between 23 and 57 years old.

The post links to a Google form where “interested individuals” are told to apply by 31 July 2020.

The Facebook page is called “Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, Uganda” but it was only created on 28 June 2020. It has a scant 150 followers. 

It is not the official page of the ministry, although it looks similar. The official Facebook page was created on 12 October 2011 and has over 20,000 followers.

It appears the page is fake, but could the financial grants still be true? We checked. 



‘Ignore fraudsters’


Uganda’s finance ministry has made it clear on its official Facebook page that the posts are fake. 

It warned the public: “You are advised to ignore these online fraudsters who are targeting unsuspecting members of the public with fake news about government grants. The ministry of finance does not have such a program as they claim. Don't [get] conned.” – Dancan Bwire




 

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