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Mukwano offers aid to war-torn South Sudan
The managing director of Mukwano Group of Companies, Mr Alykhan Karmali (2nd R), hands cooking oil to the chairman of Afri-Aid, Pastor Robert Kayanja (R), at the company offices in Kampala on Tuesday. PHOTO BY FAISWAL KASIRYE.
What you need to know:
Company says the young nation needs support since it is Uganda’s trade partner.
Kampala- Mukwano Group of Companies has contributed 250 jerry cans of cooking oil as part of the relief items that will be delivered to the government of South Sudan early next year.
The move is in response to calls by Afri-Aid, a relief aid organisation, that seeks to support the nation plagued by conflict since December 2013.
While handing over the items to Afri-Aid at Mukwano industries head office in Kampala on Tuesday, Mr Alykhan Karmali, the company managing director, said the people of South Sudan have been Uganda’s good business partners and need to be supported during the tough times.
Justification
Pastor Robert Kayanja, the chairman of the aid organisation, challenged members of the business community to contribute to the plight of war victims in the world’s youngest nation.
“We have decided to give them cooking oil because they will be receiving other foodstuffs and they also need to eat good tasty food,” Mr Karmali said.
Pastor Kayanja said Ugandans have an obligation to support the war-ravaged nation since they are our neighbours with whom we have economic ties.
“South Sudan is like a young baby that has been left to cross a busy road by itself. The people there, having nothing to eat, are eating leaves, and that’s why we will not stop at supporting them but also other nations that will experience similar challenges,” Pastor Kayanja said.
He lauded Mukwano industries for partnering with them and urged other well-wishers to emulate them. “These people do not even expect to harvest any food because their crops have been destroyed by floods,” he added.
Afri-Aid was started by Pastor Robert Kayanja and Gen Salim Saleh, among other businessmen, to help people in vulnerable situations like those in South Sudan.
The first truck with food items was recently flagged off to South Sudan by President Museveni.
