Uganda: Maro continues with charity drive

The organisation, which has advocated children’s rights and equality for girls for the past 25 years, seeks to ensure that children are protected from all forms of exploitation and neglect as well as physical, sexual or emotional abuse through effective national and community-based child protection systems.

The organisation has initiated a songwriting competition for young people called Ni-Yetu (It Is Ours). Four winners were selected as part of the social empowerment initiative to record songs that address social issues affecting girls.

Maro’s record label, Volume Up Records, is producing the songs in four languages – Luganda, Lusoga, Luo and Japadhola.

Ni-Yetu integrates the promotion of sexual reproductive health rights and gender-based violence prevention in five Ugandan districts – Lira, Alebtong, Tororo, Kamuli and Kampala.

Meanwhile, Maro’s drive to provide clean water for Ugandans will see him stage two charity concerts. The first of the two, dubbed Buy for Karamoja Charity Drive, will see the singer launch a water supply facility in the northeastern region of Uganda. The second concert, Nzira Nago, will take place at Dam Waters Grounds in Jinja on 23 September.

Earlier this year, Maro, whose real name is Ronald Magada, started making T-shirts and caps bearing his personal brand. Half of the money collected from the sales has gone to charitable causes.