The MTN Foundation, at the close of last week, handed over scholastic materials including books, pens and bags and launched a one-year feeding program for Summit View Army Primary School, Kololo. The donation was pledged at the MTN Global Leadership Gathering (GLG), a summit of over 200 top executives from across 24 countries where MTN operates.

The school has a population of 500, with pupils coming from the slum areas of Kamwokya, Makerere, Bwaise, majority of which are children of the UPDF soldiers. The MTN Foundation made the decision to support Summit View Primary School from a list of schools that were in need provided by KCCA.

Wim Vanhelleputte, the CEO MTN Uganda at the handover of the items – which was made at the MTN Nyonyi Gardens offices in the presence of KCCA officials and the UPDF Chief of Defense Forces – said that the objective of the GLG donation is to empower the pupils and teachers of Summit View Primary School through the provision of materials that will aid and enable access to quality education.

“Each child will also receive a school uniform and we also providing sanitary pads. We believe that this donation will go a long way in ensuring that the pupils focus on their school work and not worry about the next meal or where they will get the next a book to use,” said H.E Major General (Rtd) Lekoa Solly Mollo, the South African High Commissioner, who is also a trustee of the MTN Foundation.

The donated items include:

  • 300 solar school bags from MTN Group
  • School feeding program for 1 year (8,400 kilograms of maize flour & 3,150kgs of bean.
  • 3,600 exercise books, 1,800 pens, 1,800 pencils & 300 mathematical sets
  • 200 text books for teachers & pupils
  • School uniforms for all pupils
  • 300 Sanitary kits for girls

In attendance were staff from Special Forces Command, Uganda People’s Defence Forces, KCCA and MTN leadership and staff, and pupils of Summit View Primary School.

The Deputy Executive Director at KCCA, Mr. Samuel Serunkuuma, acknowledged MTN Foundation’s continuous support of the education sector.

The Guest of Honour, UPDF Chief of Defence Forces, Maj. Gen David Muhoozi was represented by the Commander Special Forces Command, Brigadier Don William Nabaasa who appreciated MTN Foundations good gesture. He encouraged the company to consider the school’s existing infrastructural challenges with an aim of offering further support.

The UPDF Chief for Education, Sports and Culture, Brigadier Phinehas Katirima echoed his sentiments saying that the UPDF provides education in 32 Primary schools, 11 secondary schools and 2 polytechnics that offer vocational education to Ugandans and are open for MTN’s partnership.