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Ugandan tycoon Hamis Kiggundu has donated UGX 530 million (approximately $150,000) to the Ugandan government to support the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, fulfilling a promise he made last month.
The 37-year-old businessman presented the funds to Uganda’s newly appointed Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja on Friday during a ceremony at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala, the capital city.
In June, Kiggundu, who is popularly referred to as “Ham” in Kampala business and social circles, pledged UGX 530 million to purchase of 150,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines. According to the entrepreneur, 5,000 doses will be utilized by his employees and tenants, while the rest will be used by other Ugandans.
“It is time to give back to Ugandans. Let us save lives. For God and my country,” Kiggundu said during the ceremony, which was covered on local television.
Nabbanja applauded Kiggundu for his generosity and called on other wealthy Ugandans to follow him.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank a city young man, Hamis Kiggundu,” she said. “He has made a big contribution, he wants to vaccinate all his staff in his companies. He has also made a contribution of ten thousand (10,000) vaccines so that we vaccinate Ugandans, he is fighting COVID.”
“I want to call upon all those Ugandans and non-Ugandans to take example of Kiggundu,” she added, noting that the government cannot fight the alone.
Kiggundu is one of Uganda’s most successful young entrepreneurs and a philanthropist of note. He is the CEO of Ham Group, a conglomerate with interests in beverages, logistics and real estate. He also owns the popular Ham Towers and Ham shopping malls in Kampala, as well as the Hana International school.
