Eunice Oting Okidi, a 16-year-old student at Seeta High School in Mukono District, donated UGX 100,000 to the Kitgum District COVID-19 Taskforce.
PHOTO BY DENIS OPOKA
Eunice Oting Okidi, a 16-year-old student at Seeta High School in Mukono District, donated UGX 100,000 to the Kitgum District COVID-19 Taskforce. The soft-spoken Okidi said the money came from her savings and she felt that this was the right cause to spend it on. “I hope this money helps with the district activities to fight coronavirus,” the teenager said while handing the money over.
She then explained that she specifically wanted the money to go towards easing the movement of the sick during the lockdown. “I know many people cannot access health facilities due to the lockdown but with the little I have given, I know the ambulance will be fueled and some lives will be saved,’’ the beaming Okidi said.
She encouraged fellow teenagers to do as she has done with the little they have. “This money was pocket money given to me by my parents. I saved it and I now would like to share it with my people. I know some teenagers have also saved their money, please share it with our people,” she implored fellow teenagers.
Impressed by the young girl, Kitgum Resident District Commissioner, William Komakech, who also doubles as head of the District COVID-19 Taskforce, said they had all been challenged by Okidi. “To see a young girl like this giving her little money to us yet she doesn’t even have a job, is impressive. She has indeed challenged us,” he said.
Komakech quickly re-assured the teenager that her money would go towards buying fuel for the district ambulance. “We must respect her wish and that of all the donors. If she wants to make sure that sick people who can’t walk long distances to hospitals are helped with our ambulances, that is what we should do,” he added.
By CivSource Team