By Charles Katabalwa,
KAMPALA
Ecobank Uganda Limited and Uganda Red Cross Society have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) aimed at harnessing their collective strength to save lives, serve communities, and improve financial health of those they intend to serve.
The signing ceremony was held at Ecobank Uganda offices in Kampala on Wednesday. Ecobank Uganda was represented by the MD Ms. Grace Muliisa, while Uganda Red Cross Society was represented by Mr. Robert Kwesiga, the Secretary General.
The MoU establishes a collaborative relationship where the two institutions will promote community initiatives in the areas of Health, Disaster response and management, Blood donor recruitment and mobilization, response to Pandemics and Epidemics response, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Menstrual Hygiene Management through provision of sanitary pads, Youth and Women Empowerment and Sustainability/ ESG Agenda. They laid out a 3-year-plan to guide their collaboration.
Under the agreement, Ecobank Uganda is to create banking solutions to URCS in addressing the Challenges of the Vulnerable Girls who drop out of school due to lack of menstrual hygiene packages. Ecobank Uganda will Provide the means through which collections and donations towards this initiative can be made and promote the cause through the different Ecobank Uganda communication channels.The Bank will also Offer support such as IT, Risk Management, Financial Literacy to those they intend to target in the MOU.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the signing ceremony, Robert Kwesiga, Uganda Red Cross Society Secretary General commended Ecobank Uganda for taking the lead in promoting humanity and joining the national society at the time of their 60th anniversary.
“On 9th July, we launched a campaign dubbed, ” Humanity Needs You” where we want to rally the whole public to join hands with us and support service to humanity. Mr. Kwesiga acknowledges that all this is coming at a time when the world around us is rapidly changing, with climate change, migration, and public health crisis shaping the landscape of humanitarian work. “It is imperative that as we face all these humanitarian challenges, we remain agile and responsive, while leveraging innovation and collaborations to meet the most critical humanitarian needs of the people we serve. I thank Eco Bank for taking the lead and signing off this Partnership, where we will work together to address issues affecting humanity.”
“I implore others to join us to work collaboratively in delivering timely humanitarian support to the people of Uganda,” Mr. Kwesiga added.
The Ecobank Uganda Managing Director Ms Grace Muliisa expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting its potential benefit to the public, but more so, to ensure that no girl in Uganda misses out on education simply because of lack of hygiene support.
“We are happy to collaborate with the Uganda Red Cross and contribute to humanitarian efforts in the country. We have committed to a number of initiatives in this MOU, but the one of empowering girls through education is so key to us. We want to foster a generation of educated women who can contribute positively to their communities and the broader society. It is not too late, we can do it, and we implore others to join the cause. The humanitarian needs of people are many, and it is not work that can be done by Ecobank alone, and we are happy to contribute to this noble cause.”
Ecobank also unveiled the account created towards the Girl Child Menstrual Hygiene cause, dubbed “Keep A Girl in School.”To be part of the initiative and to contribute to this cause, use Account Number 7195000778 (In Ecobank Uganda).
“I want to thank the Uganda Red Cross for believing in us and working out a collaboration that creates a change that Uganda needs today.” Ms.Muliisa added.
