By Alex Gahima
The actions of Rotary Club International, through District 9214, at the weekend will forever be a memory retained to mind for the communities of Kanaba Sub County, Chahafi Town Council and Murora Sub County in Kisoro district after relief items valued at 90 Million shillings were supplied and distributed to over 917 households.
The communities, located in Bufumbira East Constituency, befell serious calamity back in May, this year when heavy rains created Mudslides that resulted in the loss of several lives, including children.
It’s been nearly four months since the catastrophe occurred and several households are still coming to terms with the events that left them without loved ones, gardens to till and food to feed their families.
Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafik Sekandi says, he has left no stone unturned through lobbying and mobilization, with the hope that more humanitarian organizations can come on board to compliment Government, in its efforts to provide disaster responses to affected communities.
Government, through the Office of the Prime Minister as well as other non- governmental organizations have also provided support, both in food and non-food relief items.
Rotary Club (D 9214) under the leadership of District Governor Peace Taremwa ably responded to a clarion call made by Rotary Club of Mgahinga Kisoro seeking support for the disaster victims, whose future still remains uncertain to this very day.
Babimpa Edwin Nuwagaba, the D 9214 Stewardship chairperson says, Rotary Club International provided a grant through the District Governor, right down to Rotary Club of Mgahinga Kisoro to procure food and non-food relief items locally.
Among the items that were purchased from the business community of Kisoro include 6,500 Kgs of Posho, 3,100 Kgs of Beans, 913 Jerrycans, 400 Blankets, 914 Basins, Cups, Plates and 111 Iron Sheets.
UNICEF also provided several large Tarpaulins locally known as tundubare.
Nuwagaba said the grant was put to good use because the items were exactly what the victims needed and the purchases made in Kisoro, generated great interest among the business community about Rotary Club.
Three teams comprising Rotarians from Mgahinga Kisoro, Staff of Save the Children, Uganda Red Cross and UNHCR visited five distribution points in Kanaba Sub County, Chahafi playground, Maregamo Primary School, Nyakagezi, Rugeshi Primary School where the items were given out to the expectant gathering.
District Governor Peace Taremwa said Rotary Club intends to solicit for more support from wherever it can get it, however the items distributed over the weekend should be received as a sign of better things to come.
Taremwa urged the communities to think hard about how best to use the land sustainably by planting trees alongside their food gardens to prevent such disasters from happening again.
Beatrice Kabihogo, President of Rotary Club of Mgahinga Kisoro commended the District Governor for rallying behind the Rotary Club of Kisoro by responding to the numerous letters seeking support for the disaster victims.
Kabihogo pledged to follow up on the process of fully registering the Kisoro Chapter to ensure it can attract global grants.
Rotary Woos District Leaders.
The Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi said he is ready to join Rotary Club because its operations are inspiring, pragmatic and filled with a true desire to make the world a better place.
He commended the Rotarians for bringing much needed hope to Kisoro district which has gone through a number of traumatic events, including the refugee influx from the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, which lasted for more than one year.
Murora Sub County district Councilor Irankunda Innocent was also praised for standing by his people through the difficult time.
He also pledged to join Rotary Club where he hopes to make new friends and create opportunities to bring development to Murora Sub County.
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