Monitor story inspires bank to build house for homeless orphans
Livingstone Ssempebwa (L) and his brother Francis Ssekatawa stand in front of their new house. PHOTO BY RACHEL MABALA
What you need to know:
Fate. The two boys were abandoned by their father following the death of their mother.
Kampala.
He was dressed in an old green T-shirt and black pair of trousers. His younger brother, in an equally old cream shirt and blue pair of shorts, shyly moved to the front. A big crowd that gathered to witness the occasion cheered them on. They were shy to move in front of such a crowd but joy was evident on their faces. The smiles told it all.
The message
In their hands, they carried a frame with a personalised message; one that everyone present could tell was a message from the heart.
“Nze Livingstone Ssempebwa ne muganda wange Francis Ssekatawa tuli basanyufu nnyo kubanga mutuzimbidde enyumba gyetugenda okusooka okusulamu,” read the message in Luganda. In English, the message could read as: “My brother Francis Ssekatawa and I, Livingstone Ssempebwa are so grateful for building for us a house. It is the first house we are going to stay in.”
Ssempebwa, 17 and Ssekatawa, 14, were to sleep in a decent and permanent house for the first time in their lives.
Change in fortunes
Thanks to the generous contributions from staff and management of Standard Chartered Bank, it was a moving occasion as the bank staff and the two boys, before a community of villagers, opened the house last Saturday in Kikooba village, Bukomero Sub-county in Kiboga District.
How it happened
The bank took interest in the children’s plight following a story published by Daily Monitor on July 1, titled “Children seek help to build collapsing shelter”.
They were a miserable duo seeking help to repair their collapsing mud house (pictured right), and grief was painted on their faces. The boys’ mother, Joyce Namusoke had died early in March. Their father, however, abandoned them and married a widow in a neighbouring village. The boys had dropped out of school and their shelter was soon collapsing on them.
Touched by the plight of the boys, Mr Brian Mutebi, the founder of a local children education charity: Education and Development Opportunity – Uganda, came to the boys’ rescue, first providing them with school support, but, he could not build them a house. In a Daily Monitor article, he called for support to the boys.
That was the article Mr Herman Kasekende, the CEO, Standard Chartered Bank read.
“I came across the article of these two young boys and their plight which was highlighted by Monitor newspaper. I was deeply moved by their situation and appealed to my colleagues who responded enthusiastically. We are therefore happy to make this contribution which we believe will transform their lives by improving their wellbeing. Since September is our Employee Volunteering month, this initiative is a curtain raiser for the more than 10 community initiatives lined up for this month,” Mr Kasekende said, while handing over the two-bedroomed house.
The bank also donated two beds and mattresses, beddings, clothes and household items.
