Power in Numbers: Young People in Lira Launch Lifeline for the Vulnerable
Written by Admin on July 4, 2025
A growing wave of solidarity is taking root in Northern Uganda as young people rally together to uplift the most vulnerable members of their communities. In an inspiring show of unity and compassion, youth in Lira City have joined forces to support orphans, the sick, prisoners, and marginalized groups through a grassroots movement aimed at restoring dignity and hope.
At the heart of this effort is Team 5K, a youth-led initiative founded by Brian Yeko Ongora, the Lira City NRM Youth League leader. The group brings together young people of goodwill, each contributing just UGX 5,000 a month, proving that meaningful change begins with small, collective actions. Their mission is clear: no one is too poor to give, and no community is too forgotten to help.
The initiative held its official launch at Ngetta Baby’s Home, a sanctuary for abandoned and orphaned infants, where 45 vulnerable children currently receive care. This inaugural event was more than a charitable visit, it was a declaration of intent by young people determined to be part of the solution to the challenges facing their region.
“This is about us coming together as a generation,” Ongora remarked. “If communities elsewhere can unite to fundraise and solve their own problems, then we too, right here in Lira, can stand in solidarity with those in need.”
Team 5K’s immediate focus is providing monthly donations of essential items to vulnerable groups. Their next outreach is planned for Adina Foundation in August. Under the wider umbrella of Unity for Good Foundation, the initiative also seeks to address other pressing social issues, including sanitary pad distribution for schoolgirls, youth vocational training, and mental health awareness campaigns.
Lira Resident City Commissioner (RCC) Lawrence Egole, who officiated the launch as Guest of Honour, lauded the young people’s efforts. “The problems of young people must be solved by young people themselves,” he noted. “What Brian and his team have started is more than a donation drive, it’s a movement of purpose.”
Egole pledged his personal support and agreed to serve as the team’s patron, calling Team 5K a Caradally Tree, offering shelter, support, and hope to those in need.
Sister Demmy Frances, administrator of Ngetta Baby’s Home, welcomed the initiative, revealing the immense challenges the home faces following donor withdrawals, including the lack of a perimeter fence, rising operational costs, and the growing needs of the infants. She appealed for sustained community support and proposed income-generating projects to boost the home’s self-reliance.
While the home suggested renting out its unused structures, Lira City Mayor Sam Atul advised investing in sustainable ventures like poultry and piggery projects as long-term solutions.
The launch of Team 5K marks the beginning of a journey to transform communities through unity and grassroots action. It sends a powerful message that even modest contributions, when pooled together in purpose, can create life-changing impact.
As the initiative gains momentum, it promises to be not just a lifeline for vulnerable groups but also a model for community-driven solutions across Northern Uganda.
