KAMPALA – Incase you don’t read to the end: Please coordinate and open up a non governmental and non partizan route for Ugandans to participate in helping government deal with the effects of this pandemic
The elephant in the room is that the decision by government to ensure that all private individuals that want to support Covid19 efforts, must do so through government, is a political one.
Personally, I understood some of the arguments advanced, particularly that if aid efforts were uncoordinated, they might inadvertently end up spreading the virus.
That was until I saw the soldiers huddled together distributing posho and beans, with droves of journalists in tow.
Anyhow, my argument today is that this “one route only” approach, is the least effective way of helping Ugandans.
1st, not everyone has a new 4×4 to donate to government or a milling factory to distribute posho.
2nd, I’m not sure that government’s around the world are known for their efficiency, and Uganda’s is no exception.
3rd, and crucially, the current “one route only” has missed the opportunity to rally and garner the support of ordinary Ugandans, most of whom are very generous indeed, yet have been quick to belittle all efforts because it feels like an “us vs them” situation.
Torn between the love of their country Uganda and the current government through which all Covid19 aid must be challenged, most Ugandans, home and abroad, have chosen to remain spectators and bystanders, just when we need them most.
WHY SIDELINE THE CHARITY SECTOR?
QN: Rather than insisting that all aid should go through government, would it not be better for government to facilitate the setup of a separate arm that’s going to coordinate charitable efforts for optimal and maximum impact?
This body could work in tandem with government.
That way, Ugandans, far and wide, including those that can’t get themselves to support the current government in anyway, will be more inclined to patriotically chip in, in support of their motherland.
In subtle way, just for having encouraged and facilitated its establishment, government can still ride on the wave and claim some brownie points, but they are likely to have more buy in and more resources at their disposal if they take this route.
THE CASE FOR MIRCO DONATIONS:
As well as the patriotic benefits from the above suggestion, research suggests that “donors prefer microprojects over traditional appeals because they feel as if they make a bigger impact on achieving the goal and the project’s success. If you think about it, making a $100 donation to a project with a $1,000 goal is more satisfying than giving $100 toward a $1 million goal. The first gift feels like you made a bigger impact, even though the size of the gift is the same. Although the $1,000 goal may be one of a sequence of many small projects, helping donors feel like THEY were the reason THIS phase of the project was successful is key to inspiring them to give more gifts to future phases and achieving a greater aggregate value of the gifts.
The psychological basis for this behavior is that it triggers the completion effect. As humans, we are driven to want to finish projects. Seeing our gifts make a big difference in moving a project toward completion satisfies a primal part of our nature and triggers the release of endorphins and oxytocin—the hormones that make us feel all warm and fuzzy. The closer we moved the project to the goal, the better we feel”. Except from the article below.
Most Ugandans don’t have a new 4×4 to give away, but could chip in to support a local charity like Grace Villa, Kabale cope with the pandemic.
Please coordinate and open up a non governmental and non partizan route for Ugandans to participate in helping government deal with the effects of this pandemic.
Leadership is not selfish.
Don’t miss this opportunity.
Rukund’egumeho
Dennis Aguma
