SIMPSON M
Rukungiri Municipality aspiring Member of Parliament, Counsel Isaac Atukunda, on 12th April 2025, donated two tons of maize seeds to residents within the municipality. The donation, part of his social corporate responsibility initiative, aims to support food security and improve livelihoods, especially in households affected by the recent hailstorm.
The launch of the distribution took place at his home in Kyatoko, Eastern Division, Rukungiri Municipality. All division chairpersons and village leaders gathered to receive the seeds for onward distribution to their communities.
According to Counsel Isaac Atukunda, the donation is intended to help affected communities recover from the hailstorm damage and enable other residents to plant new crops for both food and income.
“If planted and taken good care of, just 1kg of maize seeds can yield more than 100 kg, providing food for families and surplus for sale,” Atukunda said.
He emphasized the need for transparency and fairness in the distribution process to ensure that all residents benefit from the initiative.
Counsel Atukunda also noted that the choice of donating maize seeds rather than food relief was deliberate, explaining:
“We want people to have something to plant and sustain themselves. Others bring 4 kg of maize flour, which doesn’t even last two days.”
Meanwhile, several local leaders, including Hon. Sheilah Musimenta, councilor representing Kyatoko South; Kapesha Johnson, representing Southern Division; and Silvia Arinaitwe, councilor for Kyatoko Ward, applauded Councilor Atukunda for the generous support.
They stated that this intervention is more sustainable compared to the relief food previously given, where each family received only 4 kg of maize flour that barely lasted a day.
The leaders pledged to sensitize the beneficiaries to ensure proper planting and care of the seeds so that the communities can reap maximum yields.
