COVID-19: Airtel Uganda Staff Donates UGX72 Million to Support Health Workers at Borders Points

Ms. Flavia Lwanga, Airtel Uganda HR Director, Dennis Kakonge, Hon. Mary Okurut; Minister in Charge of General Duties, and Mr. Emmanuel Katongole; Head of the Government Covid-19 Task Force, and other representatives pose for a group photo during the cheque head handover. Courtesy Photo | Airtel Uganda. Ms. Flavia Lwanga, Airtel Uganda HR Director, Dennis Kakonge, Hon. Mary Okurut; Minister in Charge of General Duties, and Mr. Emmanuel Katongole; Head of the Government Covid-19 Task Force, and other representatives pose for a group photo during the cheque head handover. Courtesy Photo | Airtel Uganda.
<center> Ms. Flavia Lwanga, Airtel Uganda HR Director, Dennis Kakonge, Hon. Mary Okurut; Minister in Charge of General Duties, and Mr. Emmanuel Katongole; Head of the Government Covid-19 Task Force, and other representatives pose for a group photo during the cheque head handover. Courtesy Photo | Airtel Uganda.</center>

Airtel Uganda staff has donated a sum of UGX72,280,000 to the Office of the Prime Minister represented by Hon. Mary Okurut, in a bid to support front-line health workers working at Uganda borders to keep Ugandans safe during this covid-19 pandemic outbreak.

The donation will aid the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the health workers at the border points of Elegu, Mutukula, Malaba, and Busia districts.

“A surge in the number of covid-19 cases has been reported at border towns increasing the infection of front-line health workers. Therefore, it is upon this background that our staff decided to rally and collect money for this cause,” Ms. Flavia Lwanga, Airtel Uganda HR Director said at the press briefing.

She noted that the staff collected UGX36,140,00 and the company topped on to sum it up to UGX72,280,000.

The telco recognizes that without an influx of urgently needed PPE, more healthcare workers may contract the virus. Thereby, reducing the availability of care for patients.

Speaking on behalf of the covid-19 national task force, Okurut thanked the telco for their continuous support in the fight of the virus.

“This donation confirms Airtel Uganda’s commitment for this country. Not only as an investor but a company interested in development and the well-being of citizens,” she said.

Prior this, the telco contributed UGX1.25 billion towards the virus fight.