Giving Stories Blog

A section of private school teachers in Gulu City and surrounding areas launched a social media campaign dubbed, “Open our Schools or Feed the Teachers”. At the start of the campaign, they had called out to teachers, who felt more vulnerable by the COVID-19 crisis to register for food aid. Once they had gathered the numbers, they took to social media to highlight the plight of the teachers in dire need of help.

According to The Independent Magazine, the campaign was successful and achieved its target. Help arrived. More

Uncertainty has been one thing that characterized this season of the COVID-19 situation. And for many, their livelihoods had been affected. However, a group of philanthropists have chosen to extend different vocational skills to many across the country.

The philanthropists move from place to place, identifying groups of youth to work with, and they equip them with different vocational skills in order to sustain their livelihoods. The group offers the skilling services at subsidized rates, for as low as shs10,000, (about 2 dollars). But they also offer free training services where need be. More

For six months now, tour operator, Joseph Ojatum and his friends have served over 3000 meals around Jinja City and surrounding areas. Before the coronavirus held the entire country at ransom, the youthful Ojatum occasionally dropped off a meal to his vulnerable neighbours. However, when the lockdown was announced, he witnessed situations that needed more than the occasional help he was already giving. More

When comedy and music come together, something exceptional is birthed. A budding singer called Twilight has released a song called ‘Am Present’. The song has already received acclaim from social media enthusiasts, who find it very hilarious because of the diction and style employed in the lyrics and visuals.

The song brings out the comic relief effect, which soothes and exhilarates many at a time when uncertainty lurks amongst those who are worried that another Lockdown in the country, maybe put in place. More

Proscovia Akurut, a medical social worker in Kumi District, in Eastern Uganda; is a heroine who wears no cap or costume. She recently reached out and helped a neighbor who had been abandoned by his family and relatives.

85-year-old, William Ongiriany had been left alone in a tiny, dilapidated house in Kapokina village. He was hungry and needed urgent medical attention. He had lost hearing to his left ear and he looked malnourished that his state was of great concern. More

This week has been an incredible one. Our collection of stories includes poems from children. On Monday this week, she shared a poem from 7-year-old Annabel Malinga called “Let Us”. And today we share with you yet another incredible one. It is worth noting that children color of our world with fascinating experiences. More

Owen Agaba is a young man of many passions, one of which is helping the less fortunate. Before the lockdown, Agaba who hails from Mbarara City in Western Uganda, had graciously committed himself to look after several orphans within his neighbourhood.

Most of the children are not just orphaned, they also have no place to call home. They live on the streets of Mbarara and need accommodation, which he readily offers to some.

Sadly, because of the COVID-19 lockdown, Agaba, a self-employed trader couldn’t work to earn enough money to help the children. With such tailbacks to his source of income, one would think of abandoning the children in their time of need, but a passion of kindness, would not let Agaba throw in the towel. Today, he has started a fundraising drive to raise money for this cause. More

This week, we kick off our giving stories, by sharing with you a sweet poem written by Annabel Malinga, a little girl from Ebenezer Primary School in the newly formed Mbale City, in Eastern Uganda. The poem is a euphony, making it easy to follow the rhythm and sound notations. It makes it easy to read and remember.

The innocence with which she communicates her quatrain poem, makes it special. The message is clear and not a word of it is minced.

The 7year old budding creative is a resident of Atutur Subcounty in Kumi District. She says that her inspiration to pen down the poem, was drawn from the extension of the lockdown. More

With some sectors of the economy opening, many have tried to readjust themselves recovery mode. Some have gone back to work while others are seeking ways to fend for themselves.

In Mpigi District, philanthropists are looking at ways in which livelihoods can be salvaged. An organization called ‘Better Places’, is working around social enterprise to help with income generation for the communities within.

They are delving into providing purely organic and mildly scented mosquito repellent to eliminate Malaria in Africa. They are transforming waste bags into sustainable, durable, waterproof, and affordable bags. Because this provides natural and sustainable alternatives to single-use plastics while creating employment. More

The battle against COVID-19 saw governments across the world take stringent measures. In Uganda, the Lockdown saw publics movement restricted and a curfew instituted. However, markets were one of the places allowed to stay open to serve the public.

With the markets open, vendors became a risk of exposure to COVID-19 virus. They needed masks to help them serve their clients well, without concern of exposing themselves. More

When the lockdown started, many people living with HIV found themselves stranded and with no means of accessing health facilities for treatment. They lived in fear of the damage this would cause, yet the worry of not knowing how best to access their drugs got worse by the day.

I received numerous calls from People Living with HIV (PLHIV) coordinators from districts like Mityana, Luweero, Serere, Sembabule, Bukomansimbi, Bukedea, Kumi, Amuria, Ngora, Soroti and Masaka. As well as strangers who know me through social media. More

The coronavirus-induced lockdown has been a season characterized by many outlooks. Generosity has been one of the highpoints we have seen in several parts of the country and the world at large.

Here on this platform, we have shared and continue to share these stories of generous giving during the Lock-down.

Another of these stories is that of a group of philanthropists with a footprint in child welfare, who made a plea to the public, to come together and help the vulnerable children in communities within which they live. The say that the lock-down saw a rise in the number of cases of children starving and malnourished especially in city slums. More

This is one story that purges into many emotions. The imagination and feeling that two souls are in immense pain, yet at the same time struggling to heal each other. This is a story that strikes a certain deeper part of one’s sensations.

Patrick Opio was a promising sportsman with dreams of making it big on the sporting arena. But one day, while playing soccer during a practice session, he injured himself. The injury left him disabled and hospitalized. Not only is he disabled, he is also unemployed.

His only hope for care, is his ailing mother, Naomi Achayo, who is battling breast cancer but must not only take care of herself but also her incapacitated son. More

According to the UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, Melissa Fleming, COVID-19 is not just the century’s largest public health emergency, but also a communication crisis. The contagion has been marred with half-truths and lies with many people, falling victim.

This reality is what informed the decision by a group of mostly volunteer social justice enthusiasts who work in the grassroots areas, to educate the vulnerable population around the country.

The group, ‘Girl Up Initiative-Uganda’ has been working tirelessly to build youth-friendly, community-centric and innovative solutions to the complexities accompanying social-distancing and lockdown measures in Uganda. More

Even though the lockdown in Uganda has been partially lifted, some are still struggling to find a meal for their families and loved ones. But a group of philanthropists in Mityana District, in south central Uganda, have joined their hands together to fundraise for the hungry in the District. Through their organisation called ‘Mityana Charity, the philanthropists are calling on well-wishers both here and abroad to join in their campaign to feed at least 300 families. More

Social media has greater power for marketing, communication and advertising. And Facebook which ranks high in the social media pedestal, is one of the most powerful digital marketing channels from almost every aspect available. And certainly, it has helped in being the tool that Lydia Ajwang used to mobilize funds to aid her mother’s medical procedure. More

Some say music can raise someone's mood. Some say it gets them excited. Other say music makes them calm and relaxed. And yes, music is important because it allows us to feel nearly or possibly all emotions that we experience in our lives.

Many songs have been released during the Covid 19 pandemic. However, just like it did in several countries, the lockdown caused the loss of jobs to many in Uganda. But one social entrepreneur here, has opened a recording studio, in a bid to bridge the unemployment gap caused by the pandemic. More

The calm after the storm is in progress. The lockdown is waning out and business is getting back to normal as it was before the country went under lockdown due to the COVID 19 crisis. Many sectors were affected, and such is the education sector. Schools are still closed and it’s not clear when they will open. More

Starvation is one characteristic that typifies the COVID 19 induced lockdown. Stories have been shared where many are hungry because they lack food to feed themselves and their loved ones. The people of Nsajja village in Fortportal, Kabarole district are some of those who have been affected and lacked food. More

The COVID 19 pandemic has not been all about gloom, many innovations have sprouted in this period. Many have taken on ideas they had swept under the carpet. Other have managed to test their resolve on talents they had not yet practiced. And Patrick Asaba, a third-year student of clinical medicine at the Kampala International University, has not been exempt from refining his gift of public speaking and writing, centered on giving the right information about Corona virus disease. More