Uganda: UAE charity organizations distribute food, essential items to over 5100 families

Uganda: Nearly 5100 families received several food items which are donated to them by one of the Charity organizations together with partners from the United Arab Emirates. 

The effort is the product of a partnership between the Mohamed Bin Rashid Foundation of the United Arab Emirates’ Global Initiative and the Food Banking Regional Network, of which Haba Na Haba is a member.

On Wednesday, the charity organization started doing the process of distribution of relief items to all the vulnerable families in the districts of Kampala, Wakiso, Mpigi, Mukono, Jinja and kakumiro to enable them to feed for one month. 

Shaban Bukenya, who represented the UAE Ambassador to Uganda, praised the charity organizations while speaking at the ceremony for the humanitarian spirit that he stated ought to be emulated by many other organizations. 

Furthermore, he stated, “We want to thank Haba Na Haba for such a humanitarian gesture that all Ugandans out to emulate, and all Ugandans learn to help others who actually are in need.”

According to Nakawa East MP Eng Ronald Balimwezo, the relief donations would go a long way in helping the vulnerable at such a time when prices for most food kinds of stuff are high.  

Balimwezo stated that this is the biggest blessing to the country that the vulnerable are being assisted with food and other relief items. We ought to appreciate such good-hearted people who offer support in times of need like these. 

Moreover, the relief fund support came at the right time when food prices were already at their peak, resulting in some families eating one time a day, whereas others did not have anything to eat. 

The director and co-founder of Haba Na Haba Food Bank, Jessica Bagenda, stated the relief items contain two kilograms of sugar, five kilograms of rice, six packets of milk, two packets of salt, one packet of wheat, one litre of cooking oil, four packets of pasta, five kilograms of beans, five kilograms of maize flour and a mosquito net among others.

As per the Bagenda, this is the fourth time we have distributed relief items to fight hunger among vulnerable people. The relief items include food and clothing, which are most needed by the Vulnerable to take for one whole month. 

However, she advised Ugandans to develop a heart for helping those in need, noting that there is surplus food in Uganda, but most are disposed of.

Bagenda stated that the charity organization is also encouraging community food banks at the constituency level as one way to reduce the wastage of food.

“Where this has been piloted, it has seen a reduction in food wastage and loss while redirecting the food to feeding within the vulnerable communities,” she noted.