Kampala, Uganda | INDEPENDENT REPORTER | Pan-African lender, United Bank for Africa – Uganda has made a donation of Shs570million to the Uganda government as support towards the fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) global pandemic.
The donation was made to President, Yoweri Museveni, by the UBA Uganda Managing Director at the State House in Entebbe, on March.30.
The funds are expected to provide significant and much needed support for relief materials, critical care facilities, and financial support in curbing the COVID -19 pandemic. So far, Uganda has recorded 44 coronavirus confirmed cases.
“We strongly believe that this donation will not only provide the additional needed funds to government and the Ministry of Health efforts to curb the spread of Coronavirus but will also serve to protect the health care workers who are at the frontline of fighting the pandemic,” the UBA Uganda Managing Director Johnson Agoreyo, said.
UBA Uganda has also executed measures at its branches to protect both its staff and customers from COVID -19 and these include; use of sanitizers, gloves and temperature guns.
The Bank has also waived charges on selected key services, in addition to encouraging customers to use its alternative channels for transacting.
President Museveni said the funds will go towards the procurement of more government vehicles to be used in transporting medical kits and facilitate workers in the fight against the pandemic.
UBA group has made similar donations to 20 African countries where it has a presence $US14million.
UBA Group Chairman Tony Elumelu, stated ‘This is a time when we must all play our part. This global epidemic must bring citizens, governments and business leaders together – and quickly.”
“As we see a rapidly increasing number of cases of the coronavirus in Africa, the private sector has to work hand in hand with various Governments, in stemming the spread of the global pandemic.”
“We commend the efforts of governments and we are keen to partner and contribute our resources to the collective effort that will ensure the response to the pandemic is swift and effective’.
Operating in 20 African countries and globally in the United Kingdom, the United States and France, the United Bank for Africa has a strong record of supporting its communities, through challenging times.