Makerere University aids Bududa mudslide victims

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Bududa mudslide victims are to benefit from relief items worth Sh100 million from Makerere University.

The items were collected in a three week’s campaign spearheaded by Makerere University Academic Staff Association – MUASA.

The relief items included approximately 180bales of clothes, five bales of blankets, five sacks of shoes, 2000kilograms of Maize Flour, 1000 kilograms of beans, 5040 96-pages Makerere University branded exercise books, 4000 nice clear pens, 3500 pencils, cooking oil and soap among other.

While handing over the items to the Vice Chancellor, the MUASA chairperson, Dr. Deus Muhwezi Kamunyu, said they collected the items as part of the first phase of their Corporate Social Responsibility.

The second phase of the ABC initiative Dr. Kamunyu says is scientific, will aim at establishing a multi-disciplinary field station in Bududa for research and demonstration of how people can live in harmony with a dangerous landscape such as Bududa.

“We are working with Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovation to see to it that Phase II of our initiative is perfected to tap into our expertise as a university to the practical aid of people living in such areas,” Dr. Kamunyu said.

Adding that, “Makerere University has well-trained human resource in sociology, anthropology, mountain hydrology, forestry, environment, public health, education and ICT experts among others.

He said “this initiative will oversee the restoration of a pot using a landscape approach where other communities in similar situation can learn from,” Dr. Kamunyu adds.

He said they are going to request the local leadership to allow Makerere to work with one of the communities towards restoration of the land.

While flagging off the relief, the Vice Chancellor Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe, said the initiative by MUASA is the beginning of Makerere University’s engagement with communities who are in need of transformation.

Prof. Nawangwe observed that what Makerere University has been able to donate to the Bududa community will impact on the lives of the mudslide victims especially children.

According to the Vice Chancellor, phase II of campaign is the most important output that Makerere University can extend to the communities in need.

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URN