By Cyprian Musoke

WIDOWS and orphans of the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) combatants have a reason to smile.

A radio campaign in the US prompted listeners to donate to them items worth over sh60m.
The items included 4,700 mosquito nets, 3,500 blankets and 7,160 medical kits.

The liaison officer for widows, Lt. Joy Turyamureeba, received the donation from Brubacher Carman, the manager of Bright Hope International, at the UPDF headquarters in Mbuya, Kampala on Friday.

Bright Hope spearheaded the campaign and shipped the gifts to Uganda.

Turyamureeba said the beneficiaries were in Bukwo, Lira, Moroto, Kotido and Wakiso districts.
Others were Busega in Rubaga Division, Kampala.

Carman said she was touched by the misery faced by wives and children of the beneficiaries.

Apostle Jean Francis of the King of Kings Ministries, who solicited the aid, said the widows and orphans she interacted with had resorted to prostitution to earn a living. MPs Bartille Toskin (Bukwo) and Evelyn Chelangat (Bukwo Woman) commended the charity for the aid.