Kumi widow gets a new Barclays house
Dec 14, 2009
FOR over a decade, Hellen Rose Alungat lived in misery under a leaking grass thatched hut in Amuria village, Ongino subcounty in Kumi district. She had never even dreamt of living in a permanent house, especially after the death of her husband.
By Patrick Jaramogi
FOR over a decade, Hellen Rose Alungat lived in misery under a leaking grass thatched hut in Amuria village, Ongino subcounty in Kumi district. She had never even dreamt of living in a permanent house, especially after the death of her husband.
November 7, 2009 will forever remain a historical day for Alungat after she was handed over a newly constructed two bedroomed house by staff of Barclays Bank and Habitat for Humanity, Uganda.
It was smiles, joy and cheers as villagers and neigbours gathered under the scorching sun to witness the hand over.
This was made possible by the efforts of 30 information and technology (IT) workers of the bank. “We decided to polish staff shoes for a fee. After two months, we had raised sh2.5m,†said Francis Katongole, the IT systems head at Barclays Bank.
Katongole, who led a team of IT staff to Kumi, said they were happy their efforts had paid up.
“It was fun as we polished the shoes. We charged a minimum of sh20,000 for each shoe though some people paid between sh50,000 and sh200,000. It was a fundraising affair,†said Beatrice Kiiza, the systems analyser officer.
Armed with sh2.5m, the bank topped up the amount to make it sh4.2m that was budgeted by Habitat for Humanity to complete the house.
“We had very many beneficiaries but Alungat’s case was stunning. She is a widow with many children to take care of. And she had no hope yet she needed shelter,†said Ronald Kiconco, the habitat resource development and community manager.
Kiconco said Habitat has so far constructed 6,000 such units across the country with 26 being constructed in Kumi district.
Alungat, a mother of four children, said her life and that of her children had been changed.
“For 12 years, I slept under a leaking roof with my children. Whenever it rained, the children would get soaked in the rain and have sleepless nights. This has stopped today,†she said.
She added that she contributed the materials — bricks, sand, water and labour that was needed for the construction.
“The selection was good and non-biased. I appeal to Barclays and Habitat to support other widows in Kumi,†she said.
Faustus Osekenyi, the Ongino sub-county chairperson, said the support given to such vulnerable women like Alungat is needed across the entire Teso region.
“We appreciate what has been done for the people of Amuria. We appeal for such support to be extended to other parishes in Kumi,†said Alice Odeke, an LC in Ongino sub-county.
FOR over a decade, Hellen Rose Alungat lived in misery under a leaking grass thatched hut in Amuria village, Ongino subcounty in Kumi district. She had never even dreamt of living in a permanent house, especially after the death of her husband.
November 7, 2009 will forever remain a historical day for Alungat after she was handed over a newly constructed two bedroomed house by staff of Barclays Bank and Habitat for Humanity, Uganda.
It was smiles, joy and cheers as villagers and neigbours gathered under the scorching sun to witness the hand over.
This was made possible by the efforts of 30 information and technology (IT) workers of the bank. “We decided to polish staff shoes for a fee. After two months, we had raised sh2.5m,†said Francis Katongole, the IT systems head at Barclays Bank.
Katongole, who led a team of IT staff to Kumi, said they were happy their efforts had paid up.
“It was fun as we polished the shoes. We charged a minimum of sh20,000 for each shoe though some people paid between sh50,000 and sh200,000. It was a fundraising affair,†said Beatrice Kiiza, the systems analyser officer.
Armed with sh2.5m, the bank topped up the amount to make it sh4.2m that was budgeted by Habitat for Humanity to complete the house.
“We had very many beneficiaries but Alungat’s case was stunning. She is a widow with many children to take care of. And she had no hope yet she needed shelter,†said Ronald Kiconco, the habitat resource development and community manager.
Kiconco said Habitat has so far constructed 6,000 such units across the country with 26 being constructed in Kumi district.
Alungat, a mother of four children, said her life and that of her children had been changed.
“For 12 years, I slept under a leaking roof with my children. Whenever it rained, the children would get soaked in the rain and have sleepless nights. This has stopped today,†she said.
She added that she contributed the materials — bricks, sand, water and labour that was needed for the construction.
“The selection was good and non-biased. I appeal to Barclays and Habitat to support other widows in Kumi,†she said.
Faustus Osekenyi, the Ongino sub-county chairperson, said the support given to such vulnerable women like Alungat is needed across the entire Teso region.
“We appreciate what has been done for the people of Amuria. We appeal for such support to be extended to other parishes in Kumi,†said Alice Odeke, an LC in Ongino sub-county.