Egyptian ambassador calls tax exemptions for orphanages

The Egyptian Ambassador to Uganda, Ahmed Abdel Aziz Mostafa, has called upon the Government to waive taxes for imported commodities directed to orphanages.

He says that this will be a great way the Government will be supporting all orphanages, which are giving a relief.

He made the remarks during his visit to Sanyu Babies Home to deliver the items he had mobilised a few days earlier, from a fundraising event last month.

The fundraising event dubbed orphan day, which was held at his residence in Kololo and was the first of its kind in Uganda.

The event which attracted several other ambassadors and dignitaries in Government was organised to fundraise for orphans and other children at Sanyu Babies Home. Among items sold during the fundraising included Egyptian artefacts, souvenirs, African art-craft, paintings, food and beverages.

The children were treated to bouncy castles and entertainment from the various traditional dance groups in Uganda.

Mostafa said that this is one of ways through which the Egyptian communities contribute to the wellbeing of orphans and disadvantaged people.

"The celebration of the orphans' day makes the society aware of the needs of the orphans and their presence amongst us," he said.

Orphan day celebration is a long standing tradition in Egypt which has been in existence for over 15 years.

According to Mostafa, the day has since become a national annual celebration in all the Arab countries and it falls on the first Friday of April.

He said that on that day, orphanages nationwide open their doors to the festivities for both their orphans and sponsors. It is also a prime opportunity for orphanages to attract new sponsors, from large organizations and businesses to individuals.

Mostafa said that on this day, people pay visits to orphanages and give donations in form of food, clothes and other basic needs. They also carry out a fundraising drive by selling goods to the invited guests and well-wishers who attend the event.

He added that an Egyptian bank of food also goes around collecting left over food from hotels and restaurants; repackage it and distribute it to the orphanages, on that day. In this way, he said, they are able to feed about 700, 000 orphans in Egypt.

He said that through such celebrations, the Arab countries have managed to raise funds to support the orphans. Mostafa added that through the proceeds got from the fundraising drive, Egypt has managed to build a children's cancer hospital mainly to offer free modern medical care to orphans.

The proceeds of the event were a few days later donated to Sanyu Babies' home and GEMS Foundation in Kampala.

Joseph Nehme, the consul in charge of visa affairs at the French embassy, who also attended the event, noted that the idea is great and not only should Uganda borrow a leaf from it, but every country that is grappling with the problem of orphans.

"Uganda and all embassies need to emulate this and show orphans that they are not abandoned," he said.

The UNICEF report 2009 revealed that Egypt grapples with an orphan crisis of about 1.7 million, something Mostafa said the Egyptian society can deal with them on a charitable basis.

According to the same report, Uganda has an orphan crisis of over 2.5 million orphans out of which 1.2 million are orphaned by HIV/ AIDS. For the few orphanages that are set up, there are still hindrances that bar them from fully catering for the orphans.

Currently one of the biggest orphanages in Uganda, Sanyu babies' home, needs about sh400m to construct a security wall fence around it.

"The existing boundary wall is very old and weak. On several occasions, thieves have broken into the current fence to steal," the Home's Administrator Barbara Nankya said.