By Agnes Kiconco

KIU, Main Campus - The Coca-Cola beverages company has donated UGX186 million to the Red Cross Society, with the intention of saving lives amidst the COVID-19 outbreak.

The donation is to aid in the hand washing campaign, an activity that will be carried out to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

During the handover ceremony at UMA Showgrounds in Lugogo, the Uganda Red Cross Society Secretary General, Robert Kwesiga credited Coca-Cola for its global and national humanitarian acts to save lives.

c��?Even before the outbreak of Coronavirus, we were partners with Coca-Cola. We have implemented several initiatives with them as our partners," he said.

Besides the COVID-19 donations, Coca-Cola last year came to the aid of residents in Bundibugyo after the destructive landslides. 

The Coca-Cola Foundation also donated food relief packages worth Ush360million to vulnerable households in Mukono District through the Uganda Red Cross Society during the COVID-19 crisis, an indicator that Coca cola has been supportive locally, nationally and globally.

The company also donated WASH materials to ensure that people wash their hands as one of the key preventative measures against COVID-19.

Robert Kwesiga further added that, COVID-19 being is currently at it's peak in the months of November and December as predicted by scientists thus we need to observe social distancing, wash hands, wear masks and avoid crowded places so as to curb the spread to the virus.

With this, Melkamu Abebe, the General Manager of Coca-Cola Beverages Africa in Uganda (CCBA), said that we need to be each other's keeper and follow guidelines issued by the government to defeat the virus.

c��?All of us have an individual responsibility to follow the guidelines given by the government so that we avoid contracting the disease, and so that we protect others. At Coca-Cola Beverages Africa we say a pledge every single day c��?? c��?I am my Sisterc��?cs Keeper, I am my Brotherc��?cs Keeper and I am my Familyc��?cs Keeperc��?c We have a responsibility for everybody else,c⬝ he said.