Gospel musician and director of youth empowerment organisation Yimba Uganda, Emmanuel Kusasira Edwin alias Coopy Bly has donated relief food items worth 5.3 million to support the most vulnerable Ugandans affected by the COVID-19 crisis.
The donation which included 1000 kilograms of maize flour and 500 kilograms of beans was handed over to the COVID-19 task force at the Resident District Commissioners’ office in Makindye, Kampala on Wednesday.
“The food is intended for the most vulnerable families in the community,” Cooply Bly told Uganda Christian News.
This includes those located around Makindye, Salama road and Katwe, which is one of Uganda’s biggest slum area.
“Covid-19 has had a negative effect on almost every one in these communities, and the worst part of it all is that majority go hungry as they are not able to work,” Coopy Bly, who own a recording studio called Backyard, said.
“As Yimba Uganda, we had to close down all the programs, including the vocational school and studio! We hope to resume as soon as the government says it’s okay to do so,” he added.
Specializing in the genres of Reggae, Dancehall and Raga, the highly celebrated artist is known for hit songs such as ‘Wakayima’, ‘Sidda Mukyalo’, ‘Nyweza’, What a Love and’ Akikwasaganya’.
Throughout his career, Coopy Bly has had the honour of collaborating with other established musicians within the gospel fraternity including Pastor Wilson Bugembe, Martin Sekku and Daddy Owen to name a few.
“Most of the Gospel artists, myself inclusive, are affected by this lockdown. We’ve had to postpone concerts which had been slated for this season which will affect us financially as we had already invested lots of funds in booking venues and all other preparations,” Coopy Bly said.
Two Kenyan truck drivers tested positive for coronavirus in Uganda, pushing the country’s total number of confirmed cases to 83 on 30 April, 2020.
The nation has so far registered 52 recoveries from Covid-19 since the first case was confirmed in March this year.
“As believers we are sure all things work out for the good of us that love the Lord! I would love to encourage everyone that as they do everything the government has recommended to avoid catching and spreading the virus, they shouldn’t forget to pray,” Cooply Bly said.
The musician urged that Ugandans should look out for the positive side of the lockdown, “spending time with the loved ones,” he said.
