22 Ugandan MPs visit Shofco for benchmarking tour

Twenty-two Members of Parliament from Uganda on Tuesday visited Shining Hope for Communities (Shofco) and toured several projects aimed at uplifting the lives of residents of Kibera slums.

The MPs were drawn from the Committee on Physical Infrastructure, Public Accounts Committee, Equal Opportunities Committee, and Appointments Committee of the Ugandan parliament.

Committee on Physical Infrastructure Chairman Hon. Tony Awany said he was impressed by what Shofco has done in Kibera and wished to replicate the same in Ugandan slums.

“We have seen what Shofco has done in Kibera. The aerial water piping infrastructure is very unique. I have never seen it anywhere in the world,” Awany said.

He further welcomed SHOFCO to Uganda to alleviate the suffering of slum residents.

“We want to extend an invitation to Shofco Founder Dr Kennedy Odede to come to Uganda and see what he can do for our slum residents through SHOFCO. We should embrace the East African community spirit and help our people across the region,” he added.

Equal Opportunities Committee Chairperson Hon. Alyek Judith said she was impressed by the inclusive nature of Shofco’s projects, praising women empowerment programs that the organisation has rolled out in Kibera and across Kenya.

“We have seen Shofco’s holistic approach to development; girls going to school, people getting free healthcare, safe water for drinking and community organising platforms.

“This is incredible and Shofco believes in giving opportunities to everyone. This is a take-home for me,” she stated.

Appointments Committee Chairperson Hon. Mugumya Clare said she was inspired by the life story of Dr. Odede who grew up in Kibera slums and later founded an organisation that impacts over three million people yearly.

“I’m particularly impressed by Dr. Odede’s life story. We have learnt that there is hope where there seems to be no hope,” Hon Mugumya stated.

She further said she was impressed by the aerial water piping system and she is going to share the experience with Uganda’s Water Minister.

“Before I became an MP, I used to work in the Ministry of Water of Uganda and I can tell you, I have never seen a flying pipeline. This is unique and I’m going to share the same idea with our Water Minister so that we can implement the same in Uganda,” she added.

During the tour, the MPs visited the Shofco water project, computer lab, library, and Shofco Kibera School for Girls.

“We are pleased to host the MPs from Uganda who paid a courtesy call on us today. We are East Africa, we are one. We are looking for partnerships that can lift our people across the region.

“What is good for Ugandans, is also good for Kenyans. We must help our people to come out of poverty and I look forward to visiting Uganda,” Shofco Founder Dr. Odede said.

It was the second time for Ugandan MPs to visit Shofco on a benchmarking tour.

In April, MPs drawn from the Gender, Labour and Social Development Committee of the Ugandan Parliament, visited Shofco to learn how to manage slums.

“We know that developing countries have a lot of urbanization challenges. We have looked at very interesting interventions being employed by Shofco to make sure that livelihood in the slums is dignified.

“These include having clean water, good roads, and children going to school affordably. They also carry out economic empowerment programmes through skilling, support, advice, and many other interventions like industrial cottages,” the committee chairperson Rwabushaija Margaret Namubiru said during the visit.

Founded by Dr Odede in 2004 in Kibera, the organisation has spread across Kenya, serving over four million people in 35 counties.

The organisation has received global recognition for its approach to transforming slums and rural communities across Kenya.

Dr. Odede was on April 18, 2024, listed among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time Magazine.

“Kennedy is living proof that individuals can lead themselves, and their communities, out of poverty.

“Kennedy finds ingenious solutions: schools for the most vulnerable girls, training programs for men to combat domestic violence, safe houses for survivors, community libraries, employment programs, innovative clean-water kiosks, a community cooperative bank,” TIME100 stated.