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MTN Uganda and its partners including Huawei Uganda, Stanbic Bank, New Vision and Rwenzori Water handed over the UShs. 400 million collected during the MTN Kampala Marathon 2013 that was held in November. The event that has become the largest both social and sporting event on the Uganda calendar attracted more than 20,000 participants from Uganda and beyond. The funds were handed over to Water Aid Uganda which has been tasked with implementing a 6 months water project in Nakapiripit- part of the Karamoja sub region.
In attendance was the First Lady Honourable Janet Kataaha Museveni in her capacity as the Minister of Karamoja Affairs at a function held at Kampala Serena Hotel. The handover over of the marathon proceeds is a fulfillment of MTN Uganda and its Marathon partners’ promise to utilize the 2013 Marathon proceeds to deliver safe and clean water to the people of Karamoja.
The selection ofNakapiripit districtas beneficiary was made after the evidence from Uganda Bureau of Statistics -UBOS poverty map and primary data indicated that more than 80% of the people in the district were living below the poverty line. A full needs analysis was carried out by Water Aid Uganda to ensure that the neediest villages in Karamoja would benefit from this water project.
The Uganda Human Development Report 2005 (UNDP 2005) ranked Karamoja Region as the second last in the country Human Development Index of 0.24 where high levels of poverty were attributed to frequent drought and insecurity. The two beneficiary Sub Counties Moruita and Nabilatuk in Nakapiripirit that were selected due to the fact that they have the least water coverage of 34% and 46% respectively.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, MTN Chief Executive Officer Mazen Mrouéreiterated that MTN Uganda was committed to continue partnering with other Corporate Companies and with the Government of Uganda as developmental partners.
Mroué said the water component under installation will include800 bio filters in schools in addition to constructing 8 boreholes, 6 Ferro cement tanks and training 4 women groups in water jar construction as a way of ensuring sustainability of the project.
WaterAid has also been tasked to monitor sanitation and hygiene among the communities and engage them through hygiene education and promotion activities including drama shows, village improvement campaigns, and household hygiene and sanitation follow-ups in 8 villages.
Mazen added, “We take pride in the fact that every participant who part in the 2013Marathon whose theme was run for Water, joined hands with MTN to make a difference in the lives of the people of Karamoja.At MTN, we have over the years dedicated ourselves to the cause of improving the society we live in by harnessing the passion that we as Ugandans have within ourselves. We have done this through many avenues, but one of my personal favorite is the MTN Kampala Marathon”.
On her part the First Lady thanked MTN for championing what she referred to as a worthy cause for the improvement of the lives of communities around the country through their impactful CSR platforms.
“I have keenly followed the activities MTN has been engaged in over the years especially in the areas of Corporate Social Responsibility and I must commend you for a job well done. Thank you for rallying the public to annually come together to run not only for their personal health, but to make a difference in the lives of needy people who live amongst us”.
The Water Aid Uganda Country Manager, Peter Okubal said the other components of ter project would include conducting of two community competitions as part of demonstration of best practices in sanitation and hygiene, capacity building for Community Based Monitoring Systems (CBMS) , Construction of 4 School sanitation facilities, training school health clubs, SMCs and teachers in improvement of school sanitation and hygiene and procurement of 50 hygiene and sanitation tool kits (Spades and pick axes) for aiding household latrine construction all of which is expected to benefit close to 10,000 people.
About MTN Uganda
Launched in 1998, MTN Uganda is the leading communications operator in Uganda, offering Mobile and Fixed telecommunications, Mobile Money Services and Internet Service Provisioning. As of 31 December 2013, MTN Uganda recorded 8.8 million subscribers across Uganda. Visit us at www.mtn.co.ug and for our football fans www.mtnfootball.com. Customers can also follow us on www.youtube.com/mtnug and www.twitter.com/mtnugandacare for assistance.
About the MTN Group
Launched in 1994, the MTN Group is a leading emerging market operator, connecting subscribers in 22 countries in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. The MTN Group is listed on the JSE Securities Exchange in South Africa under the share code: “MTN.” As of 31st December 2013, MTN recorded 207.8 million subscribers across its operations in Afghanistan, Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Cyprus, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Republic, Iran, Liberia, Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Congo Brazzaville), Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan,South Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Uganda, Yemen and Zambia. More info on www.mtn.com
