Salam Charity boosts livelihoods, hygiene in Rwampara
By Abdusalaam Ali Kinobe
Salam Charity has intensified its campaign to improve household hygiene and strengthen livelihoods in Rwampara district, as part of efforts to build healthier and more self-reliant communities under its smart community programme.
A major focus of the exercise was sanitation and hygiene, particularly among women in Buhihi where the organization distributed liquid-soap jerrycans and branding stickers to the Buhihi Women SACCO and sensitised members on proper hygiene practices and the importance of maintaining clean and healthy households.
The team also visited Buhihi Muslim Primary School, where the school leadership welcomed the intervention and expressed hope for continued collaboration with Salam Charity.
The programme also focuses on helping families establish and expand sustainable income-generating activities.
During the visit, Salam Charity followed up on beneficiaries involved in livestock, poultry, beekeeping, rabbit rearing and bakery businesses.
Among the beneficiaries supported were Halima Ssekabembe, who received assistance to improve her cattle kraal and goat-rearing project; Nasuur Karisa, who received about Shs 2 million to acquire additional beehives; and Zubeda Asuman, who received about Shs 500,000 for feeds for her 300 chickens.
Agaba Muhammad received about Shs 2 million to improve his rabbit cages and acquire more goats, while Abdul Nkuuna received about Shs 1 million to expand his beekeeping project.
The team also visited beneficiary families in Rwenshama and Buhihi to monitor their projects and assess progress following earlier interventions.
While household hygiene was generally being maintained, the team observed that some beneficiaries had made limited progress in expanding their economic activities. They were encouraged to put greater effort into developing their enterprises and making the support more productive and sustainable.
Salam Charity used the field visits to reinforce the broader objectives of the smart community programme, which seeks to move communities beyond dependence on assistance towards sustainable livelihoods and self-reliance.
The team also visited brick-making sites in Bujaga, although access was hampered by slippery roads and a damaged bridge.
District leaders welcomed Salam Charity’s continued engagement with the Rwampara Muslim community.
The district chairman, Mustafa Ssekabembe, commended Salam Charity’s managing director Hajji Karim Kaliisa for the commitment to community development and support for Islamic values.
The headteacher of Buhihi Muslim Primary School also welcomed the organisation’s intervention and expressed optimism about continued partnership.
The Rwampara activation is part of Salam Charity’s wider efforts to combine religious development, sanitation and hygiene education, economic empowerment and regular beneficiary monitoring.
Through the smart community programme, the organisation is seeking to ensure that its interventions translate into lasting improvements in household livelihoods and community wellbeing.
The three-day engagement highlighted the importance of combining financial assistance with training, follow-up, accountability and sustained engagement to achieve lasting community transformation.
