KAMPALA – Bank of Africa – Uganda Ltd has donated essential food items and household necessities to vulnerable Muslim communities including an orphanage center Save the Islamic Society Uganda (SISU) as well as several mosques in Kampala, Arua, Jinja, Mbarara, and Mbale for the Eid al -Fitr celebrations.
Key among other donated items are rice, sugar, cooking oil, maize flour, wheat flour, and other household items.
Mr. Gilbert Musaanya, the General Manager of Operations and Support at Bank of Africa told reporters that the bank firmly believes in supporting the local communities in which it operates and has made seasonal Ramadan and Eid donations a priority.
“We believe in supporting communities where we operate, and we appreciate the efforts of the proprietors and staff at SISU. We hope that our Eid package will support their efforts,” said Mr. Musaanya.
“As a Bank, sustainability is a key priority, and we are committed to delivering on our environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives. Our sustainability strategy is articulated around six commitments that guide our practices and growth model and acting in the interest of the community is one of the commitments, he added.
“The Bank directly supports numerous community events as a socially engaged institution which is committed to each of its stakeholders. The Ramadan and Eid donations are a testament of the dedication.”
Gilbert also urged other corporate companies to adapt a culture of giving back to various communities and incorporate sustainability programs in their business strategies.
Masjid Hudah in Jinja West Constituency.
SISU children’s orphanage, which supports over 200 children in the surrounding areas, largely depends on donations to take care of the children. The orphanage finds it challenging to provide for the children due to the high cost of living and inflation, and the poverty in the community also makes it difficult for some parents to meet the basic needs of their children.
Ms. Nadia Jaffer, one of the proprietors of the orphanage, expressed her gratitude to the bank for its continuous generosity.
The orphanage is run solely on local donations, which have declined significantly over the last couple of years due to the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
“It is consistent donations from thoughtful institutions such as Bank of Africa that have enabled us to provide for the children,” Ms. Jaffer said.
“We provide shelter, education, clothing, feeding, and medication among other basic needs to these orphans that we get from various parts of the country. However, we face a number of challenges in paying bills like water, electricity and rent but also sometimes the food for the orphans,” Nadia said.
Nadia asked well-wishers to keep donating to the orphanage centre, especially in terms of finances to help them run the facility.
