Excitement is all over among residents of Kamwokya a city suburb in Kampala central after receiving a number of items from Uganda Peoples Defense Force-UPDF, ranging from Masks, sanitizers, mosquito nets, sanitary pads and condoms.
Uganda Peoples Defense Force-UPDF on Monday distributed masks, mosquito nets, sanitary pads and condoms to over 400 vulnerable residents in Church zone Kamwokya parish and nearby areas. These residents include pregnant mothers, elders, children and the sick.
Ruth Nansubuga, a women leader in the Church zone expressed her excitement that this initiative by the UPDF has come at the right time when most of the residents are going through hard times economically.
“There are many old people, pregnant ladies and many children here in families that cannot even manage to buy themselves mosquito nets and masks, therefore, we are very happy and appreciative for this contribution to our people ”Nansubuga notes.
She however says some residents have missed out especially those who have been found not at home, adding that there was also a challenge of finding a family with many children yet children were given one mosquito net.
Sylvia Ariyo an expectant mother who stays in Kisenyi 2 zone in Kamwokya 2 parish appreciates the contribution given to people like her, saying the mask that she received is a nice one and comfortable to put on unlike those masks which were given to them by the government of Uganda during the lifting of lockdown.
Ariyo, who was found waiting for the mosquito net is optimistic that mosquitoes will help her family because her children have been sleeping without mosquito nets. The masks are products of Nyanza Textile Industries Limited (Nytil), branded with the “GOU” word.
A number of youth both girls and boys received condoms and sanitary pads as one way of helping them prevent sexually transmitted diseases also experienced their happiness towards this contribution. Stephen Owino told this reporter that some youth shy away from buying condoms and end up engaging in sexual activities without any protection, which he says has resulted in unwanted pregnancies and contracting sexual transmitted diseases.
UPDF also fumigated in water trenches, households, toilets among other places where mosquitoes and other insects bleed from and cleaning places they find dirty.
Lt. Col. James Muhumuza, a team leader of the team says, they are doing this as part of giving back to the most vulnerable communities and it is another way of getting in touch with the civilians as they have always done as part of Tarehe Sita army week activities.
UPDF will be celebrating its 40th Tarehe Sita on 6th February which will take place in Greater Masaka sub-region at the Liberation Square in Masaka city.
Muhumuza said they have been in different places like Kisenyi, Mengo, Kasubi, Kawaala, Kivvulu in Makerere and on Tuesdays they will be reaching out to people in Kawempe division. Muhumuza could not reveal how many items they come with to give out. He said they bring and give out, and people who miss out, they arrange with local leaders to see how they can deliver to those missed out.
According to UPDF first division spokesperson Mal Bilal Katamba this year’s theme is “Celebrating UPDF at 40, fruits of a fulfilled partnership of maintaining and consolidating the people’s security, stability and prosperity. He says they are undertaking different projects in Kampala metropolitan area and greater Masaka as a way of giving back to people.
