Thousands of families in Uganda have benefited from the UAE’s support during the Holy Month of Ramadan where several organisations extended over $ 120,000 (Dhs450,000) for breaking fast and performing pilgrimage.

The UAE ambassador to Uganda, Hassan Obaid Al Suwaidi, told The Gulf Today that the assistance covered the entire country.

Among the organisations that rendered support included the UAE Red Crescent, Sharjah Charity International, Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saif Foundation and Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Charity Foundation.

“Several pilgrims were supported by Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation,” he said.

“We are now going to focus on health and sanitation programmes,” he added.

Vice-chairman of the Uganda Muslim Youth Assembly (UMYA) Imam Idi Kasozi, who was among people responsible for distributing Iftar in the country, said: “The distribution is guided by the teachings of Islam but not under the influence of anybody.

“We target needy Muslim families, especially widows, orphans and elderly to have Iftar while breaking their fast. We don’t want them to suffer or beg from their neighbours,” Kasozi added.

“We have reached dozens of districts,” he remarked.

He said the coming of Ambassador Hassan, who has been envoy for two years in the country, was a valuable gift to the nation. “We wish we had a UAE embassy here several years back,” he said.

Another prominent Muslim leader in the country, Dr Rashid Yahya Ssemuddu, who was also involved in the Iftar distribution, was all praise for the UAE aid “particularly during these days of economic hardship.”

He said thousands of families were helped during Ramadan.

“We pray that Allah accepts the deeds of our brothers from the UAE and other Gulf and Muslim countries who supported us,” he said.

The clerics bought foodstuffs that included rice, maize flour, cooking oil, beans, wheat flour, salt, sugar, beans and soap.

The local people said that they got Iftar items from mosques and took some of them to their homes.

Imam Kasozi said: “We have now got some consistent supporters who will back our plan in future.

“We use local imams to select needy people in their communities in coordination with UMYA district coordinators. The registration of beneficiaries is done a month in advance in order to fight nepotism and corruption that existed in the process,” he said.

Among the institutions that have benefited from the scheme are prisons.

Sheikh Mahd Kakooza of district Kalungu said: “As community leaders we were relieved by the support of the UAE embassy.”

He added: “The pressure to feed students in our Muslim community schools has been reduced significantly, thanks to assistance from the UAE.”

Uganda has a population of 34 million, and the Muslims make up more than 12 per cent of the population.

Sheikh Mahdi of Masaka Islamic Centre said: “It was an appropriate time for our brothers to send assistance because during Ramadan a good deed’s reward is many times higher.”