As the country prepares for the visit of Pope Francis in November this year, MTN Uganda committed to the financial pledge of shs50 million for the expansion and re-development of Martyrs shrine in Namugongo and Munyonyo.
This donation is among the pledges made last year during the fundraising effort in preparation of Pope Francis’ visit.
During the same time MTN Uganda was nominated to support the donations drive targeting shs8 billion using Mobile Money as collection platform, activating the ‘Paapa 2015’ campaign to raise revenue; 30 percent of which will go towards preparations for these initiatives.
“Customers will be required to subscribe for the service and download a caller-tune or download catholic songs and recitations as caller tunes. They will also be able to download Pope’s quotes, facts, daily prayers among other content from the MTN play portal,” said Brian Gouldie MTN Uganda’s Chief Executive Officer.
“We are also running an SMS trivia where customers will answer to a quiz by send the keyword “Namugongo” or “POPE” to 6933 to enter and stand a chance to win phones every week. Out of these initiatives 30 percent of MTN’s revenue (after deduction of content provider costs and rewards to customers) from this campaign will go towards the redevelopment project for Namugongo and Munyonyo shrines,” he added.
The shrines, which are a significant landmark to the global Catholic community are being developed to become a national tourism and heritage symbol and also to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims and visitors each year.
The money donated by MTN Uganda will also facilitate the preparations for the Supreme Pontiff’s visit, which are already in full gear.
Pope Francis confirmed in June this year, he would be visiting Uganda in November, becoming the third Pope to have ever visited Uganda, with the first visit in 1969 and more recently in 1993. As one of the pioneers of the telecommunication industry in the country, we want to be part of this historical occasion.
According to Gouldie, the gesture is part of MTN Uganda’s long tradition of giving back to communities and projects that contribute to the common good.
Gouldie said that supporting the Catholic community and Uganda’s efforts during the preparations for the Pope’s visit to Uganda represents the company’s brand ethos and values, of being ‘Better Together’.
“Its because of this background that MTN is supporting the Catholic Church in its efforts to expand and develop Namugongo most especially as we prepare the visit of Pope Francis in November,” noted Gouldie.
“We are also playing an ambassadorial role to make sure we bring other partners to support this cause by creating a Mobile Money account where anyone, any Ugandan can donate money as low as shs500 to this cause,” he added.
A dummy cheque for the financial donation was received at Rubaga on Friday by His Grace Cyprian Kizito Lwanga and presented by MTN Uganda’s chief executive Gouldie.
Archbishop Lwanga thanked the MTN CEO for contributing towards current efforts to expand the shrines. Already over shs500m has been donated by different stakeholders including government for the same cause.
Government recently decided to upgrade Namugongo Martyrs and Munyonyo shrines into a worship and tourism site of global repute. The objective is to develop conclusive facilities at the site for worshippers, pilgrims and tourists.
The comprehensive plan is to refurbish and expand the facilities as a blue print for the rehabilitation of such sites.