Caritas Uganda has launched the Childcare and Emergency Relief Program (CERP) to help vulnerable children and those in emergency situations get basic needs.

The program targets 1,900 children in the first phase of 5 years, where each year 380 children will be given support.

Rev. Fr. Hilary Muheezangango, the National Director Caritas Uganda while addressing journalists at Hotel Africana in Kampala during the official launch said that donors from western countries are also facing different challenges such as wars, floods among other calamities and they can’t support African countries fully so initiatives like CERP will help to bridge the gap.

Fr. Muheezangango says Caritas will be having annual fundraising dinners, a charity run every August and that they target 2 million people each to contribute shs 60,000 every year, all intended to collect funds for the needy children and those in emergency situations.

Fr. Muheezangango disclosed that in the first phase of 5 years, they are looking for shs 20.4 billion, hence calling upon good hearted people to come to the rescue of the poor child of God.

Meanwhile, the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Serveus Jjumba, who doubles as the President of Caritas Uganda said that such initiatives like CERP are very important because people make small contributions which are effective hence asking Christians to support Caritas Uganda to give the needy children hope and a better life.

He also challenged Christians to always give to the needy to get blessings from God.

At the dinner organized on Thursday by Caritas Uganda, they collected over shs 122 million in cash and pledges where some of people and organizations such as Centenary Bank paid shs 5 million, Caritas Uganda shs 10 million, the Bishop of Masaka Diocese, Rt. Rev. Serveus Jjumba shs 1 million, and the Manager SAP Events, Francis Lubega shs 50,000, among others.

By Charles Katabalwa

6 Dec 2024

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