Coronavirus in Uganda: Kind gestures are invaluable during times like this
In the face of the borderless coronavirus, an award-winning Ugandan photo journalist did better. Besides just delivering heart-gripping pictures of women venders whipped by the Local Defense Unit (LDU) in a bid to enforce a lock down, The Daily Monitor’s Alex Esagala led a fundraising for said women on his personal page. He implored his followers to help these women, also single mothers with a measly income, afford to stay home.
Pictures of Christine Awori and Aloyo Hadijah graced his Facebook page a day after that with a plea to his followers to help them. “Friends, kindly support Ms Aloyo Hadijah, a vendor who was beaten up by LDUs in Kampala on Thursday, I will be delivering the money on Thursday,” he begged.
He then took his audience on a visual journey into the stark reality of the poverty that forced these women on the streets. Videos of his visits to the women who live in the slums of Nankulabye gripped many hearts. Despite being in a fixed position themselves, many Ugandans managed to raise basic needs for these women. Day by day, Esagala updated his followers attracting help from even city socialites.
Interestingly though, one man, James Alemi, knowing how meagre journalists pay is, also then decided to reward Esagala with Shs375.000 ($100). Alemi, a city Engineer and Philanthropist, celebrated Alex Esagala for not just taking amazing Pictures, but for helping show the desperate situation that sent the women on the streets.
“I was born into a family of abject poverty, I know what it means to lack!” he said. “I remember days when my grandmother could not afford to buy for me and my sister meat when we were 9 and 7 years old.”
He describes himself as a nationalist that loves helping the president create jobs for young Ugandans. It will be recalled that when a young man in dire need of money attempted to take his life at Mabirizi Complex on Kampala, it was Alemi who came to his recue, not just for the money, but gave him a skill and employed him.
“I am blessed to have the privilege of working for the affluent and the super-rich Ugandans, those who own the money,” he explains. “It is my calling by God to always bless His people. So when I make money I make sure I bless a strange needy person I find on the streets or on social media and God blesses me the more.”
He quickly adds: “For example if I make 2m, I make sure I give 500.000. I make sure I share. God will bless me with another 10m or 30m.The true meaning of being rich is impacting the life of someone in need and vulnerable in society.”
By: CivSource team