By Sebastian Bogere
As an act of humanity, the public in Gulu City has been called upon to give towards the welfare of the vulnerable people during this festive season as a way of ‘doing good’ which normally characterizes the Christmas festive seasons.
This call comes at a time when different organizations/institutions are coming out to donate to the vulnerable groups in Gulu.
This among others includes UMEME Limited (Uganda’s Largest Distributor of [Electricity] Energy) donated items worth Sh. 53 million to SOS Children’s Village in Pece-Lukung Cell, Forest Ward Gulu City on December 11, 2024, in a bid to offer them the general human well-being that every child needs to enjoy. The other are Judith Obina Foundation which supports local communities financially and promised scholarships to primary and secondary students next year.
Doreen Luboyo Aber, the Councilor V representing Bardege-Layibi North remarked that sharing food, clothes and other items this Christmas is the very reason for the season. “We should share the little that we have; like you may have two or more bottles of soda, and one or two more kilograms, you can give it out”, said Aber.
Aber rallies those who can give to the poor to do so without any hesitation, for that would make their festivities lovely and memorable.
Hamid Akamba, the Deputy Resident City Commissioner for Bardege-Layibi Division in Gulu City said as a Moslem, he takes it as his normal routine to give to the poor and needy and that should be the practice by the society.
Akamba said that he challenges the rich politicians and businessmen and women of Gulu City to donate to the poor this Christmas. “Rich people, if you are eating your fellow rich men, you are doing a dis-service. Please eat with the poor for that is the beauty of why God made you rich”, he remarked.
He however also argued for the people to celebrate wisely, minding their personal and financial security while also being wise in expenditure as the new year comes with other responsibilities including children’s education.
Geoffrey Otim, the Laroo-Pece Division Mayor made a call to everyone to remember the needy while they celebrate Christmas because eating alone when your neighbour is in need is not nice at all. “If you give a kilogram of meat then that elderly mother who cannot afford it can give her happiness. This gives meaning to our lives, especially for us as Christians”, revealed Otim.
Otim explained that in most cases sharing with people is the primary reason for our sociality that has to be borrowed and practiced during a period like this.
Pastor Concy Lagum, the Senior Pastor at Deliverance Church in Gulu City advised Christians not to celebrate Christmas while isolated in their own homes and families only, but should remember the poor and share with them whatever little they have.
Pr. Lagum said that it is even important to visit certain unprivileged groups such as the sick, the prisoners, and orphanages, among others. “Please remember to do good to the poor and needy by visiting them with some food items, clothes, soaps and even money; for this will give smiles into their faces” remarked Pastor Lagum.
UMEME donation to Gulu Children’s Home
Peter Kaujju, the Head of Communications and Marketing at UMEME Limited because they work in the communities that they serve and intermingle with, they found it prudent to give back to the community that they serve, and they have chosen SOS children’s home to be their beneficiary this time.
Kaujju said they followed the Christian principle of doing good as taken from LUKE 6: 38 which admonishes us to give to the needy. “It is not about money, but it was from our heart to bring these scholastic items worth Sh.53 million only”, he remarked.
Kuajju explained that it would not be a good gesture not to give back, at an opportune time to the community that endorses their business in a specific locality, and they did the same in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic where they supported the institution with computer equipment worth 40 million then.
SOS warmly welcomed the donation
On the donation, Taabu, the Managing Director of Gulu SOS Children’s Home said that the items shall go directly to support mostly the 82 children that are being kept at the Gulu home, with an additional extension to the other 70 youths who are also under their stewardship.
Taabu further explained that they are very impressed with the deliveries by UMEME and it will help support the children going back to school during the opening of the new term next year.
He added that it is the third occasion that they have partnered with UMEME and they are open to any organization that would wish to extend help to the children’s home to be open to visit them.
Similarly, Selestino Babungi, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Office of UMEME Limited while presiding over the donation said that the items, they delivered were not necessarily from UMEME as a company per-say, but it was a generous contribution from UMEME staff who put their resources together to help the needy as such.
“We know education is very key, we have chosen to give in line of education to support these children’s education next academic year” said Babunji.
Babungi, however, congratulated the children’s home leadership for nurturing children who had no future to important people, after they had cited recently producing a medical doctor and a pharmacist who they had sponsored at the University.
What about SOS Children’s Home?
Stephen Taabu, the Area Program Manager of Gulu SOS Children’s Village while receiving the donation from SOS Children’s said that it would be a good gesture if communities, companies, Cultural Organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations, individuals, Civil Society Organizations, corporates, the Church, other institutions and many others give to vulnerable communities during the time they are in need.
Taabu said that SOS Children’s Home has 82 children aged (00-17 years) who are housed/looked after from within the children’s home, and another group of 70 youths (aged 17 years and above) who are monitored from within the communities.
He explained that the children were picked from parents, guardians and communities who have lost parental care and their lives predominantly depend on the support from donors, and which means it is still crucial for the public to consider donating funds to support their own children who are being raised in a Children’s home setting.
Magnitude of Vulnerability in Gulu City
Prior to the invasion of COVID-19 pandemic, it was estimated that up to 600 children were on the streets of Gulu town after they had been left orphans due to past LRA War and HIV/AIDS. Out of that number, over 200 were restored to care-taking communities including homes, orphanages and home-care villages.
Similarly, it is also estimated that there are at least 2,000 destitute in the city including widows, elderly, single mothers, young adults (commonly referred to as ‘Aguus”, prostitutes, HIV/AIDs patients among other vulnerable groups.
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