VOLUME 4 A Compilation of stories on Giving in the time of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Uganda Period Covered August-September 2020 About CivSource Africa CivSource Africa is a philanthropy support and advisory organization committed to nurturing a more sustainable, effective and connected civil society that advances the dignity and voices of all people. We do this through promoting reflective, responsive, and accountable philanthropic practice. CivSource Africa is also passionate about promoting African philanthropy and telling the stories of African giving and generosity. Plot 18, Balikuddembe Road, Naguru Kampala, Uganda P.O Box 4310 Tel: +256 393 224 056 civsourceafrica.com [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/CivSourceAfrica https://twitter.com/CivsourceAfrica Table of Contents 5 Foreword 6 Acknowledgements 7 Acronyms 8 Background Chapter 1 9 Corporate Giving Chapter 2 15 Giving In Crisis Chapter 3 19 Public To The Rescue Chapter 6 Chapter 4 32 Children: A Tale Of 22 Donating Much-Needed Blood Adorable Givers Chapter 7 38 Giving Within The Arts Chapter 8 42 Giving Information Chapter 9 45 Thinking Post-Coronavirus Chapter 5 24 Giving To Special Groups Chapter 10 47 Outside The Ugandan Borders Foreword e are honored to bring you consistently showcase how all kinds Wthe forth and final installment of individuals and communities are of the “Generosity During COVID” expressing generosity, especially reports. during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been a true pleasure looking We think it is important to shift for and recounting these stories and that gaze in a way that enables us to expressions of Ugandan generosity, acknowledge and also think about community solidarity and Ubuntu. how to grow and strengthen giving from the ground up. It is important to Our aim has been to share the stories build the right kind of infrastructure of the ‘little givers’ - those whose that is socially embedded, culturally stories while every bit as worthwhile, appropriate and owned by givers in are not likely to make their way into Africa. the public domain. By telling the story of the ‘little giver’ by which we Finally, telling these stories has mean, those with limited economic reminded us of the power of the means at their disposal, we want to collective. Indeed one of the African show that ALL givers count. proverbs that aptly captures this moment is: “If people come We want to both #ShiftThePower together, they can even mend a - that is, highlight and spotlight crack in the sky.” the great contribution that local communities make to meeting We wish you great reading. development needs and propelling societal advancement, to also Karibu! continually #ShiftTheGaze - from only/mostly big donors and givers CivSource Team with vast amounts of wealth, to Acknowledgements We owe a great debt of thanks to Ms Caroline Ariba who helped compile the stories in this report. We also thank Ms Barbara Sebalu Sematimba and Ms Jacqueline Asiimwe who helped us edit this report. We thank Mr. Stuart Nsingwire who helped with the publication design. We thank the team at NakivArt, who allowed us to use their painting for the back page of this report. NakivArt is an art collective for and by refugees that live in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Isingiro (in Western Uganda). NakivArt uses drawing and drama to heal trauma. NakivArt used their art skills to educate their community about keeping safe during the Corona pandemic. This report was made possible by the generous support of Global Fund for Community Foundations. Acronyms CAO Chief Administrative Officer COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease of 2019 CSR Community Social Responsibility FIFA Federation of International Football Association FUFA Federation of Ugandan Football Association NGO Non-Governmental Organisations OPM Office of the Prime Minister PPE Protective Personal Equipment RDC Resident District Commissioner UGX Uganda Shillings UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees URN Uganda Radio Network USAID US Agency for International Development VHTs Village Health Teams WHO World Health Organisation Background hen news first The acts of philanthropy marked broke of a deadly the silver lining of the pandemic virus in Wuhan as it is the largest targeted giving City- China, the ever witnessed in Uganda. People, worldW was mostly un-phased. A organisations and initiatives few months later and the virus gave; most gave willingly to share had spread across the world, no whatever they could in kind and in one saw it coming; not even WHO, monetary value. While some of the the body tasked with forewarning giving was broadcast in the media, about potential epidemics. a lot was done behind the scenes The novel coronavirus did not give and in the hard to reach parts of anyone enough warning! communities. Eventually it was declared a Since giving comes in all forms, the pandemic, but before this, some reports that have documented the countries had sprung into action. accounts of giving of this period, Borders were closed, and the have now reached volume four. general population was put on lockdown and curfew restrictions; This fourth edition reflects on how a response that caused a lot of these acts of giving have matured economic strain. and settled into consistent support from those who can to those who Left without sources of income or cannot support themselves. A food, the poor went hungry; and pattern of social capitalism seems despite the government’s efforts, to be developing a culture of social the help given was not enough. In entrepreneurs, that we would Uganda, the lockdown intensified be keen to follow, post 2020, and in an overnight decision in April beyond the COVID-10 pandemic, 2020, causing visible strain on the to see if this will become an population as the announcement evolution and culture that expects for a total lockdown found many social wealth that responds in unprepared. times of crises. | 8 Generosity In The Time Of Covid-19 Vol.4 OfTime Covid-19 The In Generosity Chapter 1 CORPORATE GIVING orporates and parastatals alike continued COVID-19 among its health workers. with their giving, and soon lost the zeal to advertise their initiatives, and gained This donation of PPE valued at UGX 74Million (about the true spirit of true Social capital, where $20,000) was given by Standard Chartered Bank in giving and sharing of one’s resources partnership with Brien Holden Vision Institute (BHVI). becomes organic and less staged. Unlike the onset of the The donation included: disposable coveralls, eye Clockdown, where a list of givers was made public, and goggles, heavy-duty and surgical gloves, aprons, infra- the donations collected centrally, the public collections red thermometers, N95 masks, sanitizer, liquid soap, were then distributed directly to those that needed it. hand wash gel, Jik, sodium hypochlorite, examination Giving became less of a logistical challenge as it became gloves, waste bins, nasopharyngeal swabs among directed to meet an immediate need and became more other supplies. This was given to support the frontline spontaneous and without publicity and marketing healthcare workers at the regional hospital that receives stunts. a large number of patients, increasing the medical staff’s exposure to the virus. The Corporate Affairs Manager, The giving in the months of August-September became Standard Chartered Bank Uganda, Ms. Cynthia Mpanga, more aligned with looking at sustainable support handed the donation to Dr. Alex Andema, Mubende for those in need, other than as once off donations. Regional Referral Hospital Director, as the bank’s quick Donations aimed at combating the spread of the virus, response to the threatening COVID-19 challenge to continued particularly to health institutions. On the the Mubende community. He assured the bank of the 7th August, for example, Mubende Regional Referral good and effective use of the PPE to serve the people of Hospital got the much-needed donation of Personal Mubende. Protective Equipment (PPE) to help curb the spread of | 9 Generosity In The Time Of Covid-19 Vol.4 OfTime Covid-19 The In Generosity Five Million Shillings for Bushenyi An Information Hub to Save Small Businesses etshego Holdings Ltd, under its Lsubsidiary Letshego Uganda, tanbic Bank started the COVID-19 Business continued to help in the fight SInfo Hub to help small businesses get against coronavirus, by donating back on their feet through the challenging UGX 5 Million ($1,350) on the 18th and uncertain time for Africa’s enterprises, August-2020, to Jolly Tibemanya, that include individual entrepreneurs, small the Bushenyi Resident District and medium-sized enterprises and even large Commissioner to support the companies. Most companies started to work taskforce in the prevention against remotely as they planned to restructure to deal Coronavirus and towards support with the cutting of costs, and with the impact of the communities. Mr. Aijukwe that COVID-19 had on smaller businesses, in Giles, Letshego CEO said this would particular. Free online meetings that provide enable the district teams across the business survival toolkits have added great nine sub-counties, five town councils benefit to businesses trying to stay afloat, and a municipality of Bushenyi to do without funding. their work effectively, as well as help support shortages in food, medical The hub is run in partnership with the African and emergency assistance. This Management institute and has since become would be on-going support provided a centralised platform for Stanbic Bank to by Letshego Holdings even after the communicate the bank efforts in responding lockdown period. Bushenyi District to the enterprise client needs in Uganda. The CAO, Malik Mahabba, assured the head of personal and business banking Grace donors that this funding will also be Muliisa, stated how they recognise the need to used to create more awareness about grow business continuity into future structures.