By John Baptist Opua
The third edition of the Lira Corporate Gala was held on Sunday, May 4, 2025, at Lira Town College, bringing together representatives from various corporate entities and community members in a vibrant celebration of health, sports, and social responsibility.
Founded in 2022 under the Lira City Elite Club, the gala has quickly grown into a vital fixture on the local calendar, drawing participation from government agencies, schools, parastatals, and multinational companies such as MTN and Coca-Cola.
The event, part of a broader effort to encourage corporate social responsibility (CSR), blends recreational activities with essential health services and community outreach.
“This gala is about more than sports; it’s about giving back,” said Kinkuhaire Zainabu, also known as Queen, Chairperson of the Lira City Elite Club and the event’s chief organizer.
“We bring together corporate institutions not just to compete in games but to promote healthy living and support the communities they in.”
Participants had access to a range of health services, including free blood screenings for HIV, sickle cell disease, and tuberculosis. The event also provided safe male circumcision, counseling, and donations to local causes.
Lawrence Ojede, Public Relations Officer at Lira Regional Referral Hospital, praised the initiative for bolstering their outreach efforts. “In the past three months, we’ve collected over 100 units of blood at each event, and each outing sees more than 500 people tested for HIV and sickle cell,” he said.
The gala featured an array of sports and games, including football, netball, volleyball, tug of war, aerobics, and indoor games such as chess, scrabble, ludo, omweso, draft, and matatu. These activities were not only a source of enjoyment but also a means of fostering wellness among employees and community members.
“The gala keeps us active and healthy,” said Musafiri Sued Blick, a corporate player and communications officer for Dokolo District. “It’s important for organizations to support employee participation in such initiatives. There’s something for everyone.”
With its blend of sport, health, and civic duty, the Lira Corporate Gala continues to build stronger ties between corporate bodies and the communities they serve, embodying a shared vision for improved well-being and social cohesion.
