The Community Based Organisation Impact (CBO-Impact) had originally planned to join the majority of individuals and organisations including Think Humanity (TH) in an effort to feed families in the refugee camp of Kyangwali. To a surprise, the organisation's CEO contacted Planning For Tomorrow Executive, Mr. Ameny Daniel with a plan that was to divert the funds allocated for food purchase to buy soap and other sanitary items. These items will be distributed by P4T Covid-19 Task Force comprising of four volunteers.
Kyangwali News contacted Mr. Habyarimana Joseph, CBO's Chief Executive Officer based in Fortworth, Texas. He defended the diversion saying, "Every individual and organisations are fundraising and buying food for families in Kyangwali. And we thought we should do something different, that's why we will be distributing soap and other sanitary items to donate to families." Mr. Habyarimana and his organisation have gained a reputation of donating to communities in this part of Uganda, something that defines his vision and interests in local communities. In a phone call, Mr. Isingoma Patrick confirmed to this network that Kyangwali Secondary School received a laptop computer from CBO Impact three months ago. During the phone call, this school's head teacher said, "They originally had plans to donate a printer to our school but due to price difference, the funds instead went to buying us a lap top."
In a memo from CBO-Impact's chief executive, Mr. Habyarimana thanked president Trump and the U.S government for the stimulus checks citing that these funds have been helpful in donating to causes in local communities in Africa. He said, "I send my thanks to the government of president Trump for the stimulus check, through this money we have been able to make our little donation to various Organizations to have them fight the spread of the virus," adding that, "My indebtedness goes to all men and women out there, who are sacrificing their time of service and giving donations to charitable organizations to have the world enemy, Covid-19 stopped from spreading and killing global citizens." This is a very powerful message, many refugee families did in fact receive the CARES Act stimulus checks from the U.S government but based on the financial situations of individual resettled refugee families, some were able to help refugees back home in Africa.
Mr. Ameny Daniel of P4T told our reporter that Community Based Organisation Impact did in fact partner with P4T to purchase the sanitary items. He provided the value of the funds they received from their partner organisation, "We received about UGX. 1.4 Million shillings and we are estimating to distribute soap to about 250 family households here in Kyangwali refugee settlement," he said in a statement. Mr. Ameny, who remained as the figurehead and senior executive at Planning for Tomorrow Youth Organisation (P4T) is partnering with many organisations in the camp to help delivery services to refugees. We also learnt from the CEO of a Real Estate, Safro Roots Uganda Limited, Mr. Pascal Nzabahandi that his colleague, Ameny also sits on the board of directors of this company, "He is someone you can trust" he said referring to the P4T executive.
Early this afternoon, Mr. Habyarimana confirmed the distribution of soap to families in Kyangwali. The volunteers on the P4T Covid-19 Task Force helping in the soap distribution include, Ms. Asiimwe Gloria, Mr. Sumi Hamid and Albert Jaywhite. Mr. Hamid responded to us via message on behalf of the distribution team, " I wasn't expecting as high cooperation as we have experienced. Beneficiaries are happy and appreciative, they are also recommending with requests that they should be helped with food." A resident of Block 75, Kyebitaka who received soap told the Task Force members: "I am so happy that even small organization like P4T are offering big in small ways, I think you should organize to provide hand washing facility because we are being given soaps but without even a small Jerrycan dedicated to hand washing." We also learnt through the distribution team that their target beneficiary groups are the elderly, orphans and unaccompanied minors who are all vulnerable during this time of the pandemic.
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