FOOD | RELIEF | DONATION 

KAMPALA - There was excitement at Makindye Military Playground on Monday June 13, 2022 as mothers, people with special needs and the elderly received food relief.

The food items that included maize flour, rice, beans, sugar, cooking oil and soap were given to them by the Kringle Society Care for the Needy in partnership with Good Samaritan of Nsambya Church.

John Ssempija, one of the Makindye village Health team registers mothers before receiving food. This was during the distribution of food to mothers and elderly by Kringle Society Care for the Needy at Makindye Military play ground. (All Photos by Ramadhan Abbey)

Speaking after giving out the food packages to over 700 people in Makindye, Henry Ssembajjwe, the director Kringle Society Care for the Needy said they chose to give to the elderly, mothers and others due fact that COVID-19 affected them.

"I was born here in Kirundi village Makindye Division, and I know what exactly people went through during COVID-19. Our brothers and sisters hustled to look after their families, especially the single mothers, people with special needs, so the food package is a boost to them in this period when commodity prices have doubled,’’ Ssembajjwe said.

A mother with her baby walks away after receiving her food package during the mass distribution of food to Mothers and elderly.

He promised to mobilize partners to reach out for young mothers who were affected during the COVID-19 lockdown, saying this is also the biggest challenge for Country.

Forum for African Women Educationalists Uganda Chapter (FAWEU) and its partners' survey indicated that Kampala topped all districts in teenage pregnancies with 24,059 cases.

Mothers walk away after receiving food packages.

 The survry was conducted in 25 districts on the impact of COVID-19 on school-going girls and young women.

Wakiso came second with 21,595 cases, while Mukono came third with 8,639 cases. Kamuli District in Eastern Uganda was ranked fourth with 7,847 cases. 

Upcountry districts with high teenage pregnancies were Kasese with 6,957 cases, Jinja with 6,950, and Mayuge with 6,648 cases. 

In an interview with New Vision, Easter Namusisi, 75, a resident of Kibuye said the food relief was timely, especially when the prices of essential commodities like sugar and soap are high yet people are recovering from COVID-19 pandemic.

During the food distribution, John Ssempijja, the Makindye Village Health team called upon Ugandans, especially those who have not yet got the COVID-19 jab to go for vaccination and those who are already vaccinated to take booster vaccines.

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