As Muslims around the world celebrate Eid Alftir tomorrow, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces -UPDF contingent in the Democratic Republic of Congo -DRC for peace mission has donated food to Muslims of Rutshuru community.
UPDF delivered the packaged Ramathan food items to Sheik Ibrahim Muhammad, the Khadhi of Rutshuru territory in the presence of Imam of Jamia Mosque, Sheik Swadik Kabemba. Photo Courtesy of items donated to muslims by UPDF in DRC.
Eid Alftir marks the end of Ramathan period and it’s a day of merrymaking for all Muslims around the globe. However, some poor families, including those whose living standards have been hampered by civil conflicts miss out on merrymaking especially if there is no one who has to extended aid to them.
For instance, the DRC has been infested with all sorts of rebel and militia groups that have left dozens of people killed and others confined in camps. UPDF is in DRC in twofold, one group is fighting Allied Democratic Forces -ADF who have been attack Ugandans while another is under East African Community Regional Force -EACRF which is intended to restore peace between M23 rebels and Kinshasa government.
Eid Alftir food was delivered to Sheikh Muhammad and Imam Kabemba by Col Michael Walaka Hyeroba, the Uganda contingent commander who noted that the support is a sign of oneness.
“We pledge to continue working together with the people of Rutshuru-Kiwanja in North Kivu to ensure that peace and stability prevails. EACRF-UGACON is grateful for the support so far rendered to it for the time it deployed. In the Mission area and pray the support continues,” Col Walaka said.
Sheikh Muhammad in his appreciation remarks to UPDF contingent pledged full support to the peace keepers stressing that Islam is a religion of peace and it’s on this basis that he will lead the Muslim community in Rutshuru territory to fully support EACRF in their efforts to sustain and consolidate for peace in this region.
On his part, Sheik Kabemba petition Allah to bless the entire peace process so that DRC gains total peace and security so that region goes back to normalcy. The Muslim clerics said they will consider the most vulnerable especially the widows, aged, orphans and the poor as his top priority so that they can enjoy the Eid festival.
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Col Deo Akiiki, the deputy UPDF Spokesperson, said the donated food items included 100kg of rice, 20 litters cooking oil, 50kg of wheat flour and 10 cartons of bottled water. DRC has for years lacked people because of more than 100 rebel and militia groups in its thick rain forests.