The Aliguma Foundation (AF) through its Ndi Mwana – The Cry Of A Girl Child campaign this week broadened its wings and took its noble cause down to Masindi District in South Western Uganda.
The campaign that uses football as a front to change lives and mindsets of underprivileged people in society notably girl child but also considering the needs of boy child was launched in May 2021 at its initial base in Acholi Quarters slum settlement in Banda B1, Nakawa Division – Kampala, Uganda.
For the case of Masindi, the district now becomes the foundation’s latest beneficiary and it will attempt to address the plight of the natives and girl child there through charitable activities.
Kinuma Village in Bigando Parish, Miirya Sub County, Masindi District, is set to be the home of The Aliguma Sports & Empowerment Centre. The foundation visited the area this week as its stakeholders seek to establish a rapport with locals and as well understand the plight of the people there inorder to forge a way forward.
To start with, the youthful girls of Miirya Sub-county received sanitary pads, sugar and other home basic needs. AF has also promised to teach women in the area to make reusable pads.
Ritah Aliguma, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aliguma Foundation was on ground and told over 300 women, 100 youthful girls and 50 men in attendance that AF will work together with locals to attempt uplift the standard of livelihoods in the area.
“As the Aliguma Foundation, we are new in your area and our pledge is to ensure that we work with you to improve the livelihoods of everyone,” Aliguma said at the site of the foundation’s home soon after the ground breaking ceremony.
“For starters, we are going to get a technical person to teach you how to make reusable sanitary pads and ensure that you mothers become teachers of a whole generation to come. The girl child must be empowered to stave off any inferiority remarks and any kind of abuse that comes with it,” Aliguma added.
Earlier on, Area Chairman, Godfrey Isingoma narrated stories of how more than 96 per cent of the people in his area and district at large couldn’t afford sanitary pads.
“These people still use rags or tear ‘obuwero’ (small pieces of cloth) from their Old Gomesi (Ugandan traditional wear for ladies also called Busuuti) and worn-out clothes to do that necessary evil,” Isingoma revealed.
Kinuma Village’s women mobiliser Irene Mbabazi, who is commonly referred to as Mama Sarah said that sometimes they opt to stay home to avoid embarrassment (during their periods).
AF has so far reached out to about 2,500 girls. The foundation is looking for volunteers to join its campaign and help teach the women in Masindi how to make reusable sanitary pads.
