The Archbishop Odama receiving a dummy cheque. Photo by Marko Taibot.
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Last Updated on: 17th March 2022, 04:16 pm
Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese John Baptist Odama commended Deposit Protection Fund for thinking about the home [children] of God who need more support.
By Marko Taibot
Gulu – March 15, 2022: Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda has donated assorted items worth shs20m to St Jude Children’s Home in Gulu city. The donation is to support 75 orphans including children with disability who are at Jude.
Some of the items delivered include a commercial washing machine, fifty mattresses with mackintosh covers, and fifty pairs of bed sheets all valued at shs20million.
Josephine Oweta, the Director of St Jude Children’s Home Gulu city acknowledged the donation, saying it has come at a time when we need it most.
It will go a long way in addressing some of the financial challenges facing the Center, further stating that after the death of the former director of the Center, and due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the center has lost many of its donors.
“The Center had about 20 donors, but right now the donors are less than five, we have been surviving on the support of parents, things were very difficult, but with God, there is always a leeway,” Oweta revealed.
The director explained that the center had planned to procure more of the items and had budgeted close to shs5m but with the grace of God their prayer has been answered by the Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda.
“With more need children and the children with disability in the region; we intend to make this a resourceful center that will have a bigger capacity to cater for many children.”
Julia Clare Olima Oyet, the Chief Executive Officer of the Deposit Protection Funds of Uganda said the humble contribution is part of the cooperate social responsibility (CSR) for which every year they earmark shs50m to support vulnerable communities.
“Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda deemed it fit to set aside resources, through its corporate social responsibility program to support especially the vulnerable community. St Jude Children’s Home is such an entity that is delivering selfless services to orphans and other vulnerable children in the society,” Julia noted.
According to her, investing in children by according the less privileged an equal opportunity to that of their peers, in however small a manner, translate into an investment in the future of this nation.
She appealed to leaders at all levels to walk the talk with regards to mobilizing the community to support those who are less privileged in the region as the 20 years LRA insurgence has caused a lot of trauma to many.
The Archbishop of Gulu Archdiocese John Baptist Odama who received the donation on behalf of the Children’s Home commended Deposit Protection Fund for thinking about the children of God who need more support.
Odama ad ised the administrators to make good use of the items donated so that they can serve the purpose for which it was donated.
Patrick Onen Ezaga is the head of communication Deposit Protection Fund Uganda. He said that they used very universal criteria to identify St Jude among many other Orphanages that offer similar services and care to children.
He said with resources allowing, the Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda is committed to helping many vulnerable children, persons with disabilities.
Fr. Lawrence Kumakech, the chairperson Board of Governors St Jude comments the Deposit Protection Fund for the gesture alluding that the commercial washing machine will contribute to the hygiene of the children at the center and relief the caregivers.
One of the caregivers at St Jude Children’s Home Grace Akello, 60, who has been at the center for the last 10 years said it has always been a challenge washing the clothes with freehand and now the commercial machine will ease their work.
Hellen Akidi, 64, is a caregiver who confessed that it is only the love for humanity and the love for children that has kept her taking care of the children.
