UCAA holds 2024 Aviation run, proceeds to help in construction of sanitary towel facilities
UCAA'S Fred Bamwesigye in a group photo with the winners
By our reporter
The Management of Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) on Sunday October 20, 2024 held the 2024 aviation run which was graced by hundreds of people in Entebbe Municipality.
The 2024 aviation run was organized by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) in conjunction with Uganda Aeronautical information service officers’ Association (UGAISOA). The participants for both 5km and 10 km race were flagged off at Entebbe Mayor’s gardens by the authority’s Director General Fred Bamwesigye, who also participated in the 5km race.
In his remarks shortly after the run, Bamwesigye revealed that this year’s aviation run is one of the events organized by Uganda Civil Aviation Authority to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) slated for this year in early December.
“This is the 80th year since the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) was formed in Chicago in the United States of Africa. The celebrations will take place from 10th-11th December, 2024,” Mr. Bamwesigye revealed.
Bamwesigye highlighted that the proceeds from the aviation run will be used to construct sanitary towel facilities in the districts of Jinja and Namayingo respectively. He added that these sanitary towel facilities will provide the girl child with sanitary towels in the most affected schools like Budondo and Namayingo primary school.
“What we have done today is social corporate responsibility and as usual we always give back to the community, especially the most vulnerable communities. In this year’s aviation run, all the proceeds shall be used to help young girls in the districts of Jinja and Namayingo to acquire sanitary pads which had hampered many school going girls to achieve their future dream.
“The run is a good mobilization tool that creates awareness that there are those in the community who can’t afford services but badly need them. In the future aviation runs, we want to help schools that are in a dire or dilapidated state so that they can get decent classrooms and reading materials.”
Bamwesigye continued that due to public demand the authority is thinking of holding the aviation run every year than having it after every two years.
“Early this year, we saw a video clip on social media from the Budondo zone showing girls using soil and polythene bags to make sanitary pads which was so appalling. So I took my team and we visited the community and we discovered they needed empowerment on sanitary pads. During our survey in the Budondo zone, Jinja district, we found many donations of sanitary pads that easily expire with a few reusable ones. We don’t believe in donating but we believe in teaching people to make their own things,” The president of Uganda Aeronautical information service officers’ Association (UGAISOA), Moses Obbi revealed.
He added: “This year’s aviation run aims at erecting facilities that will help the community make their own sanitary pads and sell them among themselves. In Namayingo district, Namayingo primary school will house the sanitary towel facility to serve the whole district. Then in Budondo zone, Jinja district, we have identified the place and talks are ongoing with the Landlord to have a 2 year commitment with landlord to put up a sanitary facility which will be used to train the girls to make their own sanitary pads and sell them within the community at an affordable price.
“We will offer the necessary supervision to ensure the community is running the business very well and we shall give more support by bringing development partners on board to help them grow the facility into a bigger one so that it can serve the entire community. Probably by February next we shall begin the construction works of the sanitary facility project.”
Meanwhile, in the 10km race for men, Daniel Comboni emerged winner, Alex Agiko (runners up). In the women’s category Jacinta Nambuya was the winner, Viola Kalembe (runners up) and Linda Nabukera (2nd runners up). The winners in the 10km race each won a gold medal and Shs.500.000 while the runners up each won a silver medal and Shs 300.000 and the second runners up each won a bronze medal and Shs.200, 000.
In the 5km race for men, Raymond Omara emerged winner, followed by Patrick Labeja and Lymon Tomanya (2nd runners up). In the women’s 5km race, Patience Asasira was the winner, Praise Natukunda (runners up) and Gift Amutuhaire (2nd runners up). The overall winners in this category each won a gold medal and Shs .300, 000, the runners up each won a silver medal and Shs. 200,000 and the second runners up each won a bronze and Shs .100, 000.
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