During the festive season, JIMMY NTALE led a team of friends, partners and well-wishers to Napak, Karamoja as part of a charity drive that touched several families. Felix Eupal tagged along and offers his two-day experience.
When Jimmy Ntale asked me to join him for a journey to Karamoja over the Christmas period, I was skeptical at first. Of recent, images mostly shared on social media about the sub-region are absurd and gruesome; if not dead Karimojong warriors, it is starving old men and women. I thought going to a place of death and despair was not a wise move.
Nonetheless, I drudgingly agreed after he persuaded me about his bold cause to donate relief items for the Karamoja communities to address their woeful plight. Through his Germany-based Ntale Hilfsorganisation International, Ntale organized this trip for months after reading about the plight of some Karimojong communities, especially when it comes to starvation.
He coordinated friends, partners and well-wishers for the trip and with a truckload of goodies and gifts, we set off for two days to Karamoja on December 19 in a group of about 12 people. Our stop was in Kokorios village in Matany sub-county, Napak district. Here, the first impressions were the harsh weather and sight of malnourished people, especially children.
It was evident Napak is badly affected by climate change. Here, people lack the basics we take for granted such as clean water, food and medicine. Amidst all this, they warmly welcomed us with open arms. Young, youth and old people came together to greet us.
“The festive season is a time to share with those who are in need. From my born-again belief, I thought I could do something to positively impact these people. We don’t have that much but the little we can give can improve someone’s livelihood or even save a life and I am happy to do something,” Ntale said as the team rolled out relief items for the community.
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