Buddhists donate relief items to Kigungu fishing community

May 09, 2022

The landing site is where fishermen and their families settled after they were evicted from Makusa and Lwamunnyo islands in 2018

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Julius Luwemba
Journalist @New Vision

The Uganda Buddhist Centre led by its Abbott Venerable, Bhante Buddharakkhita (formerly Steven Kabogoza), delivered a donation worth over sh40m to the fishing community of Kigungu landing site whose merchandise was lost in a fire outbreak on December 5, 2021.

The consignment containing relief items such as 14 tonnes of maize flour, soap, rice and cooking oil, was delivered to the locals on Friday in response to a request made by the Katabi Town Council chairperson, Ronald Kalema.

Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita (right) handing over relief items to residents of Kigungu landing site. Photo by Julius Luwemba

Venerable Bhante Buddharakkhita (right) handing over relief items to residents of Kigungu landing site. Photo by Julius Luwemba

Each of the 230 beneficiaries was given 30kgs of maize flour, 15kgs of beans, 2 litres of cooking oil, 3 bars of soap, 2kgs of sugar, and 10kgs of rice among other relief items.

An assessment had been made weeks before the relief items were delivered, to ascertain the exact number of homesteads that had been razed by the fire. Over 670 people lost their merchandise in the fire.

Venerable Buddharakkhita (left) praying with Ronald Kalema the Katabi town council chairperson. Photo by Julius Luwemba

Venerable Buddharakkhita (left) praying with Ronald Kalema the Katabi town council chairperson. Photo by Julius Luwemba

“We had to make an assessment of the place to identify what the people needed. I believe they still need all kinds of support,” Buddharakkhita said.

Kalema said the donation is timely given the recent increase in prices of food items, making it hard for locals to afford them.

“Kigungu landing site is not within my area of jurisdiction, but, I believe generosity should not have boundaries," said Kalema.

The landing site is where fishermen and their families settled after they were evicted from Makusa and Lwamunnyo islands in 2018, by the Fisheries Protection Unit then headed by Lt Col James Nuwagaba.

Days after the inferno, Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, donated food and non-food relief items to the victims.

While delivering the Prime Minister's package, Fabrice Rulinda, the Entebbe Municipality mayor supplemented the relief items with a donation of sh2m to help the residents buy poles and construction materials for rebuilding.

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