Nile Breweries Limited made the donation, valued at over Shs 333Million (US$92,000), to benefit major referral hospitals in 17 districts across Uganda. The cylinders are to be distributed across the country covering all regions: Acholi, Ankole, Buganda, Bukedi, Bunyoro, Busoga, Karamoja,Kigezi, Lango, Sebei-Elgon, Teso, Tooro, and West Nile. These regions are represented by districts:Gulu, Mbarara, Kampala, Masaka, Lugazi, Tororo, Masindi , Jinja, Iganga , Moroto, Kabale, Lira, Kapchorwa, Mbale, Soroti , Kabarole, and Arua.
Uganda’s Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja and Nile Breweries Legal & Corporate Affairs Director Onapito Ekomoloit flagged off trucks delivering 300 oxygen cylinders to major hospitals across the country, for the benefit of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
The 75kg oxygen cylinders, will prove an immensely valuable resource in Uganda’s fight against the pandemic and has the potential to save many lives.
At an event held on July 21st at the Office of the Prime Minister to celebrate the distribution of the oxygen, Prime Minister Nabbanja said,
“This donation, and NBL’s continued support and contribution to Uganda, will make a real difference to the exceptionally difficult COVID-19 situation in the country. Our thanks go to NBL, to their parent company AB InBev, and to the individuals and teams that made this possible.” “I want to inform Ugandans that all the support you are giving us will be put at good use it will not be business as usual,” she added. NBL has long been a valuable pillar of the Ugandan economy, contributing nearly Shs 400 billion to our GDP each year, and supporting approximately 40 000 formal and informal jobs. When COVID 19 threatened, NBL responded quickly.
NBL has previously donated 25,000kg of maize meal to those threatened by food insecurity during the 1ST lockdown; 7,900 litres of fuel to Covid 19 Task Forces of districts, Mbarara, Jinja, Kampala and Buikwe, and medical equipment valued at Shs60 million for Mulago Hospital Intensive Care Unit.
Onapito said, “This pandemic has shown us that the only way to build a better tomorrow is by working together. We have seen globally how stakeholders have come together to collaborate for the greater good. We’re proud to have been able to support Uganda’s healthcare system and its brave health workers at this difficult time.”
According to Francis Kisirinya, Ag Executive Director, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, the donation is a timely and most needed contribution now that will save lives, particularly for those in hospitals. “The private sector recently appealed to its members to come together and compliment Government efforts to the COVID19 resurgence. We applaud Nile Breweries for heeding to our call.” Said Kisirinya. He added, “With life; business thrives.”
Over the past few weeks Uganda has tightened restrictions in order to curtail a worrying rise in COVID-19 infections, which have tested the capacity of the Ugandan healthcare system.