Nile Breweries Limited (NBL) has today donated three tons of maize flour and beans to the starving people of Teso region. The donation was in response to a food relief appeal by the Iteso Welfare Association (IWA)-Uganda, an NGO formed by Iteso elite based in Kampala. The NBL legal and Corporate Affairs Onapito-Ekomoloit handed over the food to the IWA Board Chairman, Mr. Tom Okelloto, at the company head office in Luzira, Kampala. “This is our token of empathy with the starving people most of who are farmers that grow for us sorghum to making beer,” Onapito said. Onapito said Nile Breweries long term strategy for farmers’ food security though was for them to have adequate income by supplying the company.

Nile Breweries sources sorghum and barley from over 20,000 farmers in Uganda, The State Minister for Disaster Preparedness, Musa Ecweru, witnessed the handover. The Minister thanked Nile Breweries for the gesture and encouraged other corporate companies to come on board. “Hunger has ravaged many parts of the country, especially the Teso region which ideally is a food basket for Uganda,” Ecweru said. “The government has already intervened but we need more,” he said. Last month, IWA launched a fundraising drive code named “Teso Food appeal.” “This effort has enabled us collect several tons of maize flour, rice, and beans, which they will next week deliver to the various districts in Teso,” IWA chairman Okelloto said. He said the distribution will target children, the elderly and HIV/AIDS patients. “We shall work with health centers II and III to reach the target group,” Okelloto said.