COVID-19: UNRA, contractors contribute 60 tonnes of food

COVID-19 | AID

KAMPALA - Contractors under their umbrella body the Uganda National Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors (UNABCEC) on Thursday contributed 43 tonnes of maize flour and 14.2tonnes of beans as part of their efforts to support the COVID-19 response in Uganda.

The contribution was handed over to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Head of Enforcement John Ssejemba and James Olonya the UNABCEC Board Director.

UNRA staff also contributed an additional 5 tonnes of maize flour to help those affected by the coronavirus shutdown in the country.

Measurements Solution Ltd in addition to the contribution towards foodstuffs also offered free calibration of all infrared Thermometers to the Ministry of health, currently being used at Mulago Specialized National Referral Hospital.

"As contractors, we just don't consider our businesses alone but we are also concerned about the people who are most vulnerable. So when the Executive Director of UNRA Allen Kagina relayed the appeal that the contractors should be able to come up and show solidarity so that we can stand with our own, we wanted to respond as contractors who are taking the matter seriously," said Olonya who is also Dott Services Limited Contracts Manager.

He prayed that COVID-19 never triumphs and that Uganda as a nation would triumph over it and become even much stronger.

 
Kagina was in March this year selected by Corporate Companies and Chief Executives to lead and chair sessions in coordinating and supplementing the Ministry of Health efforts in combating the global COVID-19 epidemic.

Ssejemba thanked the contractors for the gift and also thanked the staff of UNRA who had contributed as individuals. "As an authority, we want to thank you for listening to us and walking with us this time when we needed to support our people who are vulnerable and may not have what to eat. At UNRA we believe that you can never do it alone and the next neighbour is your next arm," Ssejemba said.

He noted that UNABCEC was the first body they had approached and that the contribution will save lives  "People outside there did not have what to eat and this will go a long way in supporting government efforts in supplying the required food to the urban vulnerable people to ensure they live until the lockdown period is over.

"As an organization, we want to thank you and thank our staff. This is the spirit and if we continue fighting together, COVID-19 will not defeat us," Ssejemba added.

Simon Rwashana from Measurement Solutions noted that they had bought a machine that would check the infrared thermometers which were critical in determining whether one had been infected by COVID-19.

Engineer Benon Mugarura of Assured Engineering Services Limited noted that their donation was a Social Corporate Responsibility. "We do business with the Government and most of us are constructing roads and it's the Government giving us business. The President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni had come up with a request for all of us to come in and fight COVID-19. We have come in to support the vulnerable groups."

Over 34 local companies contributed, chief among them included Dott Services Ltd, Excel Construction ltd, Mantrac (U) ltd, Arab Contractors, Stone Construction ltd, Afro Build Ltd, and Ambitious Construction Company Ltd.