By  Ritah Namisango

As Makerere University staff and friends continue to fundraise resources to save the people of Karamoja from starvation, hunger and death, the Fundraising team appointed by the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe has today, Monday 12^th December 2022 presented the first batch of resources mobilised consisting of cash contributions worth UGX 25 million and other relief items to the Acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe.

Makerere University joined the Karamoja Fundraising Drive on 7^th October 2022 during a Corporate Prayer Breakfast and Staff Luncheon organized at the University’s Freedom Square by Pastors Robert and Jessica Kayanja to praise God for the 100 years of Makerere University’s transformation and contribution to humanity. 

During the praise, worship and prayer engagement with Makerere University leadership and staff who had convened at the Freedom Square, Pastor Robert Kayanja shared videos of the famine in Karamoja and its consequences.  The effects of climate change such as prolonged drought led to crop failures which have exacerbated the famine that continues to plague this mineral-rich region. It is hard to imagine a life where you and your family are reduced to eating leaves to stay alive. 

 Moved by the videos of people in Karamoja starving to death and the fundraising campaign through “The Karamoja Cry” being undertaken by the Robert Kayanja Ministries, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe pledged to champion Pastor Robert and Jessica Kayanja’s Karamoja initiative at Makerere University. In this regard, Prof. Nawangwe announced a fundraising drive aimed at helping to address the food insecurity in Karamoja sub-region. Prof. Nawangwe pledged to reach out to members of staff at Makerere University to contribute money and relief items in order to save the people of Karamoja from hunger and death.

Rallying staff to contribute to “The Karamoja Cry,” the Vice Chancellor appointed Dr. Twine Bananuka from the College of Education and External Studies (CEES) and Dr. Robinah Kulabako from the College of Engineering, Design, Art and Technology (CEDAT) to receive the contributions in form of cash and relief items.

Presenting the first batch of the resources (both in cash and relief items) so far contributed, Dr. Twine Bananuka and Dr. Robinah Kulabako emphasized that the fundraising drive is still going on, and pointed out that more members of staff at Makerere University and friends are still mobilizing resources.

“We are handing over the first batch of the cash and relief items to the Office of the Vice Chancellor so that the contribution from Makerere University towards the Karamoja Cry is received by the Pastor Robert and Jessica Kayanja Ministries to support preparation for the next planting season,” Dr. Bananuka said.

Receiving the cash contribution of UGX 25 million and relief items, Prof. Henry Alinaitwe who is also the Acting Deputy Vice Chancellor (Finance and Administration) applauded Makerere University staff and friends for responding to the Vice Chancellor’s call to join the fundraising drive to save the people of Karamoja from hunger. Appreciating that the fundraising drive was still going on, Prof. Alinaitwe has further appealed to staff and friends of Makerere University to contribute generously towards the Karamoja Fundraising Initiative.

In the same spirit, Prof. Alinaitwe commended Pastors Robert and Jessica Kayanja for coming up with the noble cause of reaching out to Ugandans and institutions such as Makerere University in order to contribute resources to save people of Karamoja from starvation, hunger and death.