Uganda: Catholic Body Donates 12 Tons of Food to Isingiro Hunger Victims

AMDA

Archdiocese of Mbarara Development Association (AMDA) has donated ten tons of posho and two tons rice to people affected by hunger in Rugaga Sub county, Bukanga Isingiro district.

The Chairman AMDA Dr Gaston Ampe said on the money used to buy food was raised by the association members and well-wishers. The food was distributed to about 600 homes on Thursday, each getting five kilograms.

"This is part of church work. The food is being given to those who are badly affected (by hunger). We sent our teams in advance to register the beneficiaries basing on the vulnerability," said Dr Ampe.

He called on other organizations to donate food to people of Bukanga saying hunger in the area is real. Dr Ampe who was accompanied by Mr Gervase Ndyanabo, the Chairperson Archdiocese Council, called on local people to plant variety of fast maturing crops now that rains have come.

Fr Deus Twijukye, the parish priest Birunduma, said they are getting reports of people dying of hunger and that the church is trying to save lives. He added that they used church structures to identify the most vulnerable without discriminating.

The local residents said they are depending on boiled bean leaves. However, it is causing them diarrhea. "We boil bean leaves; we don't have any other food. It is good that we have bean leaves but the challenge is that they cause diarrhea if you don't eat any another food with them," said Ms Susan Naluboha, from Kyarwambura village in Birunduma parish. 

The Assistant District Health Officer Isingiro Ms Clementia Kajungu said if one eats a lot of greens without another food, they are likely to suffer from diarrhea. She however said this has not been reported to their office.

AMDA is an umbrella association uniting all Catholics that hail from Mbarara Archdiocese living in Kampala and surrounding Areas such as Entebbe, Mukono, Wakiso and Jinja.