The Ugandan government announced it will pay a $10 monthly allowance to the country’s “chronically poor.” Any Ugandan who was born, raised or has lived in poverty all their life will be eligible, officials said in a recent BBC article.

On the surface, the announcement is positive. Indeed, optimists will argue that though the amount is small, it is a small step towards ensuring that families are able to meet some of their basic needs. Some will even argue that the handouts will give the will give the poor a sense of hope because as the saying goes “a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.”

One must commend the Uganda government for the bold gesture taken. This gesture will bolster the wonderful efforts made in the area of Universal Primary School which has led to unprecedented school enrollment and the narrowing of the access disparities in regards to the ratio of boys to girls a key pointer for gender equality. The halting and reverse on the rates of HIV/AIDS has been a commendable effort and a point to be emulated by other African countries.