KAMPALA – The Managing Director of Crane Management Services (CMS), a subsidiary of Ruparelia Group, has donated millions of shillings in cash and gifts to People with Disabilities at the Skills and Talent Expo 2018.
The expo was organised yearly by the Rena Community Development Association.
This year’s expo that took place Thursday at Mengo Senior School in Lubaga Division and was attended by persons with disabilities from Kampala metropolitan area, including Wakiso, Mpigi, Kiira, Kyengera, Entebbe and Kajjansi.
The executive director of the Rena Community Development Association, Mr Twaha Katende, who was also the chairman of the organising committee of the event, said the expo is aimed at finding a solution to the problems faced by PWDs.
“We can only achieve this by giving out all that we can to make their lives better,” Mr Katende said.
He said that this year’s theme is to support PWDs towards achieving self-reliance and better livelihoods.
In his address to the disabled community members, Mr Rajiv Ruparelia thanked the organising committee for coming up with such a wonderful idea of uniting people and playing games so that their talents can be identified.
The business tycoon further called upon the ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development to come up with capacity building programmes that can help the disabled to acquire skills and meet their desired goals in future.
“As Ruparelia Group, we have been at the forefront of working closely with the disabled. That’s why in all our buildings, we have decided to set up some places where these people can work,” he said.
He said these facilities were accessible at Kampala Boulevard Building, Hardware City, Market Plaza and Kingdom Kampala.
Mr Rajiv who funded over 60% of the budget for this year’s PWDs annual expo also called upon the members to work together for the benefit of their association. He also reminded them that disability is not inability.
The event was attended by the President of the Amptics Soccer Federation Mr Lawrence Katimbo and the councillor representing PWDs in Kawempe division urban council Mr Amos Mandera.
An Amptic soccer team of UPDF soldiers from Mubende Casualty Barracks squared off with a selected team from Kampala Regional Amptic soccer clubs in a game that was characterised by fun, jubilations and skills.
The Kampala Amptic soccer club walloped Mubende UPDF team 2:0.
Mr Rajiv handed over the trophy to the winners and several other goodies – wheelchairs, crutches, walking frames, walking sticks and other mobility devices to the disability community.
