With more than half a million people decrying hunger in Karamoja, the Catholic church in Uganda has come up with a campaign to collect food and financial support for the affected.
Under their umbrella body, Uganda National Council of lay Apostolate [UNCCLA], the lay catholic leaders have taken the responsibility of running this campaign.
In an interview with our reporter, Garvase Ndyanabo, the president UNCCLA, has revealed that the two week campaign is an act of kindness to the hunger victims in the Karamoja region.
Urgency of the aid
Ndyanabo, also notes that the lay leaders in the dioceses of Kotido and Morotto confirmed the urgent need for tangible aid.
They thus request Christians allover Uganda and abroad, to considerably offer anything in their capacity to make the donation a success.
Audio: Ndyanabo appeals for collective efforts towards the cause.
About the UNCCLA body.
UNCCLA is the official national representative body of the Catholic Diocesan Laity Councils , Lay Catholic Movements and Associations in Uganda.
What they do
- The UNCCLA, through the executive committee, resolved nationally strengthen and utilize the various Associations of professionals and Lay Apostolate movement in the work of evangelization
- Ensure effective ongoing catechism, the doctrine and teaching of mother Church
- Strengthening active participation of the lay faithful in all activities of the church both religious and secular.
As part of their objectives, the UNCCLA mobilizes the lay faithful country wide for empowerment through the spirit of sacrifice, including donations to the needy.
Starvation death toll rises in Karamoja
Reportedly, about 50 have died of starvation due to months long drought in the Ugandan already deserted area, Karamoja.
The most affected districts are Kotido where 1O7, 7OO are estimated to be starving, Napak (81,800), Kaabong (70,600), and Moroto (61,900).
According to leaders, in the region the situation is an emergency, thus asking bureaucrats to waive procurement bureaucracies and get food to residents clinging on a string of life.
Response
The Office of the Prime Minister (OPM), this week delivered about 400 bags of maize flour and 200 bags of beans to Iriri sub-county, one of the most areas devastated by famine.
Earlier this week, the leader of National Unity Platform, Robert Kyagulanyi, alias Bobi Wine, handed over the foodstuffs to the Karamojong.
These included 2.5 tonnes of beans and 2.5 tonnes of maize flour to the leaders from the sub-region at the party head office in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb.
Call to Support the cause
The Catholic based umbrella body UNCCLA, thus calls upon collective efforts in making the cause successful.
As confirmed by the president Ndyanabo, any body in the country is free to donate either money or food.
Ways of supporting
Interested people of good will, can pass their aid through 0776655836 and 0707062492, registered in the names of Baliraine Paul Mugaju, the National treasurer.
