Gov't to support disadvantaged people

KAMPALA-The vice president has said government will give more support to organisations that help disadvantaged people.

"Government will continue to recognize and support circulars service organisations which render humanitarian activities to the needy communities. Your activities supplement the government efforts in transforming the country," Ssekandi said.

Ssekandi was presiding over the celebration of the Makerere University Lions Club anniversary in Kampala.

Ssekandi said it is gratifying to note that through the humanitarian activities, interventions, measures, especially in the social sector, have made a tremendous contribution to Uganda's economic development.

Sekandi said such humanitarian organisations make us have a sense of belonging to a team of volunteers dedicated to making the world to a better place to live.

He also applauded the new President of Lions' club Makerere University Elizabeth Nansubuga and the past president Patrick Mangeni for leading the club's existence of one year. He launched the Lions website that will enable more members to join the club's activities.

He said that club's engagement in the fight in hunger, environment protection, sight capabilities, diabetes and pediatric cancer are crucial with the involvement of the youth who make up the biggest part of the population.

"With the painting of Zebra- crossing and humps at the various areas at the Makerere University, it is another key role to increase road safety to the public and the road users," he added.

He said he looks at Lions club as a key ally because they deliver services to people in extreme need such as people living in what is described as "hard to reach areas" in good time.

President Nansubuga was grateful to the Vice President's contribution of sh6m out of the sh14m that was raised in cash and pledges in mini fundraising to support the activities of the club.

Nansubuga said for the International Association of Lions Clubs International is the largest and most active voluntary organisation in the world with a membership of over 1.4m men and women in more than 46,000 clubs.

"With Makerere as a higher institution of learning, we are going to work on the increase of awareness of sanitation and innovation of toilets something that has been overlooked for many years. The condition of the sanitation around campus needs to be attended too by working with the communities around campus," said Nansubuga.

Nansubuga said we share some of the foods and facilities with the communities around so if they do not keep sanity our health might be affected too. She added that they are going to increase the planting of trees at the university and in the communities.

Prof. Mangeni advised the members to recruit new members at the university. Prof. Mangeni said besides students participating in building their careers if they are encouraged to join membership it would boost the clubs activities.

Mangeni added that if annually 300 members can be recruited in the colleges of humanity a bigger team and service would be achieved. He said that even after the university, the graduates may remain members of the club who will continue to serve.