The African International Christian Ministry (AICM) and the Pilot Light Foundation have joined forces to support the Batwa communities in the Rubanda district, whose homes and crop gardens were swept away by floods and landslides in May of this year. These two organizations are now providing crucial support to the families affected by this devastating natural disaster.
On the 12th of October 2023, the AICM team, led by the Executive Director, Denis Mucunguzi, visited Murubindi village in Kacerere Town Council to monitor the construction of six houses for the Batwa families supported by AICM. They also handed over one million shillings as seed capital funds to the Murubindi Batwa-Bakiga Tutunguke group, whose members also lost property in the landslides.
With support from the Pilot Light Foundation, AICM has assisted six families of Batwa landslide victims by providing iron sheets, windows, doors, nails, and labor, among other items. Mucunguzi mentioned that they purchased 90 iron sheets, 12 doors, and 24 windows and also covered expenses for nails and labor, among other things.
Mucunguzi, the AICM Executive Director, stated that the floods and landslides in May exacerbated the plight of the Batwa communities. Many of their homes and crop gardens were destroyed, leaving them without a source of income and food. This has left the Batwa communities in a vulnerable and precarious position as they struggle to survive.
He added that, in response to this crisis, the African International Christian Ministry and the Pilot Light Foundation have launched a project to support the Batwa communities. The project aims to provide food, shelter through the construction of houses, and other forms of support to the affected families.
The project is funded by the Pilot Light Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those in need. The foundation has provided financial and logistical support to AICM, which is now leading the efforts to support the Batwa communities. They are also working with local communities to help them rebuild their homes and crop gardens.
AICM and the Pilot Light Foundation are also collaborating to provide long-term support to the Batwa communities, including offering education and job training opportunities to enable the affected families to rebuild their lives and become self-sufficient.
During the same function, Eliab Mugambagye, the LC3 Chairperson of Kacerere Town Council, mentioned that he would engage LC1 Chairpersons to help monitor the Bakiga community, who are exploiting Batwa with small sums of money for renting their land or buying them alcohol. However, he commended AICM for its continued support to the Batwa communities.
Patrick Abeneimwe, the Muko Subcounty LC3 Chairperson, urged the Batwa community to utilize and protect the donations from AICM if they are to bring about positive changes in their livelihoods.
