By Mujuni Dalton
Proverbs 3:27 says: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” Aligned with this biblical wisdom, the Chaplaincy administration of Thorny Croft Chapel at Uganda Christian University (UCU) donated food to lockdown-stricken students living in hostels around Mukono.
This distribution occurred under the strict adherence to the Standard Operating Procedures for safety during the covid epidemic in the country and was officiated by UCU Chaplain Rev. Eng. Paul Wasswa Ssembiro.
Fifty-four students benefited from this initiative. Each received a pack of maize flour, beans, sugar and soup. Students who benefited applauded the Chaplaincy for what they called a “generous act.”
“This is a very good gesture from the Chaplaincy,” said Ayesiga Silas, a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Finance. “This food is going to take me for the next couple of days in such a period characterized with economic hardships and escalation in prices of essential needs.”
Rev. Paul said that as a ministry they tried to follow the example of Christ which compelled them engage it this charity. He said, “We need to meet the needs of our congregation wholistically, not only in spiritual but also material needs where we can.”
He revealed that this was not the end, that their next move was to donate to the affected families that constitute their congregation. Rev. Paul expressed added concern about the emotional impacts of the Ugandan lockdown that started in June and goes through July 2021. The chaplaincy has set aside a contact through which individuals can make phone calls to the Ministry team for-Counselling services.
Benson Amanya, the Guild Minister of Religious Affairs who doubled as the mobiliser of students in this campaign, said that they formed a network of students that helped them to identify the affected students.
In early June, Uganda entered a second phase of the spread of Covid -19, which includes four variants. This compelled the government to institute a lockdown as a way of mitigating the spread of the coronavirus.