By Agatha N Biira
“Giving is very important. Even if you do not have a lot, you can share the little you have with others,” Jonathan Kivuna said when asked why he chose to start Mwonyo’s Heart. Mwonyo, which simply means salt in Runyankore,
Life, as we know it, is never a straight path. When Kivuna was in senior two, his parents had financial constraints and were unable to support him. His aunt stepped in and took care of him for one year. It is because of this that he decided to always give to those in need, even if he didn’t have much to give.
“I never took my aunt’s help for granted. If she had not done that, then maybe I wouldn’t be at UCU this year or even be the Vice Guild President, “Kivuna said.
Now in his third year pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration at Uganda Christian University (UCU), Kivuna gives because he wants to share love with the less fortunate and those around him.
Fast forward to his birthday this year, May 21, when he launched Mwonyo’s Heart in a charity outreach to the Good Samaritan Inclusive Day and Boarding Primary School in Nasuuti, Mukono alongside the 24th Guild government where he serves as the vice guild president. And most recently, the Rwambogo Refugee Camp in Kakira, Jinja district.
Jonathan Kivuna talking about why he chose the name “Mwonyo.”
One would think that he started giving when he became a leader, but that is not the case. He said he had been giving to the needy even before, but as an individual, and when he came into power, he used the platform he had to reach more people and make Mwonyo’s Heart known to the community.
When asked why he chose to give to children, Kivuna said he loves children. “Spending time with children, seeing them eat, and smiling makes me happy,” he said. “Their joy is my happiness.”
He hopes to leave a footprint in every society he goes to. He plans on registering Mwonyo’s Heart as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the end of the year. “I plan on reaching out to more Ugandans that need help. God willing, “Kivuna said.
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. ” Matthew 5:13. This is the verse that Monyo’s Heart is built on.
