Today, the Ruparelia Foundation, a charity arm of the group in conjunction with Cedric Babu Ndiliima, an aspiring MP for Kampala Central stood in solidarity with the less fortunate people in the Kampala Central parishes of Kamwokya, Mengo, Kagugube, Bukesa, Nakivubo, Shauriyako, Industrial Area, Kisenyi and Old Kampala.
The duo has started a drive to distribute 5,500 care packages to 5,000 households. The package includes sugar, soap and maize flour (posho) among other commodities. The programme which started today March 28th will go on till Tuesday, March 31st 2020.
Since Uganda registered its first Covid-19 case, several directives by the government have restricted movement of people, putting some sections of the population who are either unemployed or earning daily wages, at risk.
The government has also severally said that the best guard against the disease is prevention, through keeping a safe social distance, washing hands and staying at home, which is why, the Group has also partnered with the aspiring MP, as well as local council chairmen to sensitize the local communities on what precautions and measurers they can do to protect not only themselves and their families, but also the communities in which they live.
Fighting Corona Together
In a statement, Babu said that given what the country is going through: “This is the time for us to show collective responsibility. We have to unite and pull together as communities and follow the guidelines as set by the Ministry of Health if we are to get through the crisis.”
Jyotsna Ruparelia the co-founder of the Ruparelia Foundation in a statement also said that: “Coronavirus does not discriminate against social class, religion or ethnicity. It simply kills. This is the time when we all must know – right from kindergarten-going school children right up to us the adults and grandparents. This is not the time to be ignorant about the virus. We cannot afford to be ignorant.”
Babu, thanked His Excellency, President Yoweri Museveni for taking swift and decisive measures to contain the virus. He also appreciated the role played by the minister of health, Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng and the entire Ministry of Health team and the entire healthcare frontline workers as well as the various security organs for their tireless efforts in trying to keep Uganda safe.
Ruparelia Foundation: Enriching lives together
The Ruparelia Foundation was founded in 2012 by Dr. & Mrs. Sudhir Ruparelia and runs its programmes under the theme: “Enriching Lives Together”.
Other trustees are Sheena Ruparelia, Meera Ruparelia, Naiya Ruparelia, and Rajiv Ruparelia. It funds startups, education, environment preservation, health, general welfare, religious charity, research, sports, wildlife and animal conservation.
For the past seven years, the Foundation has worked together with several stakeholders to champion positive change in different communities across the country to improve livelihoods in Uganda.
To date, more than 600 charitable causes have been funded by the charity.
