Sheema, (UG): Residents from Sheema District organized under a WhatsApp Group are running a fundraising drive aiming to raise Shs22 million needed for a life-saving heart surgery of three-year-old Jeremiah Aijuka at Uganda Heart Institute in Kampala.
The constituents through the WhatsApp forum dubbed Sheema South Platform have already contributed shs 6.9 million, and are short of shs 16m to reach the targeted amount needed for the little boy’s surgery.
Mr Jabeli Benson, an admin of the group who has since December mobilized members to contribute towards the shs22m drive says they are now looking at well-wishers from all corners including politicians, businessmen, philanthropists particularly from Sheema District and good samaritans across Uganda to help contribute whatever little they can to save the boy’s life.
Jeremiah’s father, Mr Julius Ndyayebwanta, a bodaboda motorist from Kabwohe town in Sheema told DailyExpress how he is stuck with the three-year-old son and only looks up to well-wishers to have his son’s life saved.
Ndyayebwanta says that he didn’t know his child was born with a heart problem and after reaching out to almost all big hospitals for treatment but in vain, it was last month (20th December 2023) when he was told that his child needed heart surgery to be healed.
“Reaching the Uganda Heart Institute, they told 22 million shillings were required to carry it out,” Ndyayebwanta narrates, adding that although they have sought help from family and friends, they have been unable to raise all the money required.
Ndyayebwanta says when he went back to Sheema, he tried to look for money through his bodaboda business but failed to raise the required amount yet the situation of his son is worsening day after day.
“I sometimes feel like giving up on treating my own child but whenever I see him lying on the bed in pain, I cry since he is the only son I have,” he says.
Medical documents seen by DailyExpress indicate that Jeremiah’s heart operation is scheduled to be carried out on January 16, 2024, implying the over shs15 m pending has to be raised within 10-12 days to save the toddler.
Mr Jabeli who is coordinating the fundraising campaign for Jeremiah’s heart surgery has therefore called upon the leaders in Sheema right from district to parliamentary level, businessmen, well-wishers and other good samaritans from all over Uganda to help raise the amount required for the operation to take place.
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Jabeli says any contributions towards saving Jeremiah’s life can be sent to; Centenary Bank (Acc: 3203611620 – Julius Ndyayebwanta) or Mobile Money Deposit on 0773338209 / 0759450573 also in the name of Julius Ndyayebwanta. While for more information, contact him on 0702151985 (Jabeli Benson).
