Hundreds of Mothers, Elderly and Needy Receive Lifeline in Mbarara
A team from CHESED introducing some of the items to the Doctor at Mbarara HC4 for distribution to the needy
Hundreds of vulnerable people, including postpartum mothers, elderly persons, widows, orphans and children, have received a major boost after a charity organisation stepped in with donations and support while leaders challenged government to stop neglecting community charity programmes.
The call was made during a charity outreach organised by CHESED Blessing Hand Ministries International in Mbarara City, where volunteers distributed a variety of essential items to patients and postpartum mothers at Mbarara City Health Centre IV.
The beneficiaries received milk products, infant clothing, diapers, bedsheets and other necessities aimed at easing the burden on struggling families. The charity team later extended its outreach to vulnerable people at the Western Uganda World Revival Network during the official launch of the CHESED Foundation programme.
Residents from communities surrounding Koranarya Town also benefited from donations that included clothing, scholastic materials and milk products to support children’s nutrition.
Speaking during the event, CHESED Chief Executive Officer Apostle Katy Okurut said helping the poor and vulnerable is at the heart of the ministry’s mission and should be embraced by everyone.
She described CHESED as a ministry focused on raising people committed to showing mercy and extending support to those in need. According to Okurut, charity is not merely an option but a responsibility and command from God.
She explained that the organisation operates several directorates that specifically target vulnerable elderly persons, widows, single mothers, orphans and disadvantaged children.
Okurut expressed concern that charity work in Uganda continues to face challenges due to weak networking structures and poor leadership in some communities. She argued that many initiatives fail because leaders and stakeholders do not work together effectively.
She stressed that charity organisations cannot succeed in isolation and called for stronger collaboration between community leaders, government institutions and charitable organisations to ensure assistance reaches those who need it most.
In a direct appeal to authorities, Okurut urged government to stop sidelining charity efforts and instead provide support to organisations already working on the ground.
She said government should recognise charity groups as partners because they are serving the same citizens government is mandated to support. According to her, with proper backing from authorities, charity programmes can expand and transform even more lives.
Okurut revealed that CHESED has conducted charity crusades across East Africa, including Uganda, Kenya and Tanzania, where more than 7,000 people have benefited within a year. She added that the initiative has since expanded beyond the region and now reaches communities in countries such as Nigeria and the United States.
She further disclosed plans to engage President Yoweri Museveni and other leaders in organising a mega charity crusade at Mbarara’s Kakyeka Stadium in the coming months, saying the ambitious programme will require significant funding and support to reach larger numbers of vulnerable people.
CHESED Western Uganda Director Penina Natumanya said the organisation was established not for personal gain or publicity but to serve disadvantaged people whose struggles often go unnoticed.
Natumanya said the foundation deliberately focuses on all categories of vulnerable people, including children, women and men, because hardship affects every section of society.
She described the launch of the programme in Mbarara as a blessing for the nation and expressed hope that the culture of helping others would be passed from one generation to another.
Like Okurut, Natumanya challenged government to stand with CHESED Blessed Hands, arguing that many struggling Ugandans are never heard because their voices do not easily reach decision-makers.
She said the organisation has become a bridge between vulnerable communities and government institutions and should therefore be supported to continue reaching deep into communities where suffering often remains hidden.
Meanwhile, Jolly Kagira, founder of Ankore Old Persons and former Secretary for Health, Community and Social Services at Mbarara City Council, blamed the continued neglect of vulnerable people on poor leadership.
Kagira said many leaders are more interested in advancing personal interests than addressing the needs of struggling citizens. According to her, countless vulnerable people continue to suffer because some leaders are not concerned about their welfare and rarely prioritise issues affecting the poor.
As donations flowed to mothers, children and the elderly, the event turned into a powerful indictment of leaders accused of forgetting society’s most vulnerable members, with charity workers insisting that without stronger government support and committed leadership, many needy Ugandans will remain trapped in hardship.
About Post Author
