Uganda Red Cross delivers Eid al-fitr package to muslims in Iganga, Mbale

AGGREY NYONDWA

Ramadan is a special time of the year, for the Muslims around the world conducting fasting, but also a good time to focus on charity to the most vulnerable in community.

The Uganda Red Cross Society (URCS) with support from Kuwait Red Crescent in a special way has distributed food packages to the Muslim brothers and sisters as they complete this Holy month of Ramadan.

The food packages worth Shs 112 Million benefited over 1,500 households in the three districts of Mbale, Iganga and Mpigi.

The distribution started on Saturday 1st June 2019 in Mbale and Iganga where 1000 households received their food packages, and then proceeded to Mpigi district on Monday 3rd June where 500 households benefited.

According to Brain Kanaahe, the Community Resilience Manager at Uganda Red Cross, the distribution targets vulnerable Muslims who have had to struggle making ends meet throughout Ramadhan.

“We are here to celebrate and this is a token of love from the Kuwait Red Crescent and Uganda Red Cross to these vulnerable groups. We are mainly targeting households led by women, children, the elderly, orphans and other people with special needs. We are hoping to reach over 9,000 vulnerable Muslims in this program,” said Kanaahe.

The package which was welcomed by the beneficiaries across the three districts with open hands, contains sugar, maize flour, rice, cooking oil, beans and dates. These will help those who cannot afford a descent ‘Eid meal have a happy celebration after a long month of fasting.

“We are grateful to the Red Cross for this generosity. Majority of our people were already worried about how they would celebrate ‘Eid. I have over 900 Muslims in this mosque and there is no way I would have supported all of them. The intervention has been timely and the leadership of this mosque is so thankful to the Red Cross family,” said Ismail Musamale, the imam of Munawala Mosque in Bungoko Mtoto sub county, Mbale district.

In Iganga district, the distribution was led by Dr. Halid Kirunda, the URCS chairman Central Government Board who appreciated the community members for always working with Red Cross during disaster response and when responding to other pressing needs of the community.

“Uganda Red Cross is a membership organization, so we always work with such grassroots communities. Without them our work wouldn’t be possible. So as we appreciate their continued support and participation, we have decided to give back to them especially our Muslim brothers and sisters who are concluding their holy month of fasting. We wouldn’t want others to enjoy the day while the vulnerable and needy are left behind,” said Kirunda