Nile Breweries donates 300 oxygen cylinders to aid Covid-19 fight

Nile Breweries Limited has donated 300 oxygen cylinders to major hospitals across 17 districts to benefit those that are critically ill with Covid-19.

The donation valued at over Shs 333 million ($92,000) was handed to Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja at the OPM premises in Kampala.

The cylinders are to be distributed across the country covering all regions: Acholi, Ankole, Buganda, Bukedi, Bunyoro, Busoga, Karamoja,Kigezi, Lango, Sebei-Elgon, Teso, Tooro, and West Nile. These regions are represented by districts:Gulu, Mbarara, Kampala, Masaka, Lugazi, Tororo, Masindi , Jinja, Iganga , Moroto, Kabale, Lira, Kapchorwa, Mbale, Soroti , Kabarole, and Arua.

Over the past few weeks Uganda has tightened restrictions to curtail a worrying rise in COVID-19 infections, which have tested the capacity of the Ugandan healthcare system.

Prime Minister Nabbanja said the donation, and NBL’s continued support and contribution to Uganda, will make a real difference to the exceptionally difficult Covid-19 situation in the country. Our thanks go to NBL, to their parent company AB InBev, and to the individuals and teams that made this possible," she said.

NBL has long been a valuable pillar of the Ugandan economy, contributing nearly Shs 400 billion to our GDP each year, and supporting approximately 40, 000 formal and informal jobs.

When Covid-19 hit, NBL responded quickly. NBL has previously donated 25,000kg of maize meal to those threatened by food insecurity during the first lockdown; 7,900 litres of fuel to Covid-19 task forces of districts, Mbarara, Jinja, Kampala and Buikwe, and medical equipment valued at Shs 60 million to Mulago Hospital Intensive Care Unit.

Onapito Ekomoloit, the Legal and Corporate Affairs director at NBL said the pandemic has shown us that the only way to build a better tomorrow is by working together.

"We have seen globally how stakeholders have come together to collaborate for the greater good. We’re proud to have been able to support Uganda’s healthcare system and its brave health workers at this difficult time," he said.

Francis Kisirinya, Ag Executive Director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, said the donation is a timely and most needed contribution now that will save lives, particularly for those in hospitals.

"The private sector recently appealed to its members to come together and compliment government efforts to the Covid-19 resurgence. We applaud Nile Breweries for heeding to our call," Kisirinya said.