The Uganda Bankers Association and the Deposit Protection Fund of Uganda have donated a combined total of Shs 440,450,000 towards the fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus.
The announcement of the donation was made yesterday at the Ministry of Health headquarters in Kampala where 200M was gazetted for Makerere University’s Department of Immunology and Molecular Biology under the College of Health Sciences.
The remainder, according to information we’re privy to, is meant to purchase personal protective equipment for health workers at the frontline of the fight against COVID-19.
The donors acknowledged that testing is a crucial stage in the mitigation of the novel coronavirus and that Uganda was limited by limited testing equipment and having just one testing centre, The Uganda Virus Research Institute in Entebbe. They further noted that the cost of testing equipment, that is currently $65 was over and above the affordability of majority Ugandans.
Mathias Katamba, the UBA Chairman said the donation is intended to help up to 20,000 health workers access protective equipment and also help in the manufacture of upto 53,000 rapid test kits by Makerere University.
“I wish to thank the Uganda Bankers Association and the Deposit Protection Fund for the generous donation of UGX 200M towards the Rapid Test Kits project spearheaded by Dr. Misaki Wayengera of Makerere University College of Health Sciences. Dr. Ruth Aceng and Dr. Diana Atwine, I thank you too for the great work.” Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor of Makerere said in a statement.
