By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus - While the rest of the world celebrated Valentines' Day through romance and sharing different gifts, the KIU Debate Union chose to give back to the community by cleaning Kirudu National Referral Hospital on Sunday.

This community service is part of a plethora of activities the Debate Union has lined up to do this year, according to their president, Kisembo John Guest.

‘’Coming to Kirudu National Referral Hospital is part of the many activities we intend to do in this year's calendar which will run under the theme, Global Solidarity, Shared responsibility," John Guest said.

When asked why they chose Kirudu Hospital, John Guest said that the hospital was one of the very few places that are commonly accessible to the majority of the community and that it being a national referral hospital made it possible for them to achieve the requirements of their theme this year.

‘’Being a National Referral Hospital, means it can be accessed by anyone in Uganda and presumably doing community service there is a sign of solidarity and shared responsibility just like our theme goes," he clarified.

Kenyana Sarah, who serves as the Debate Unions Training Director said that choosing to clean Kirundu National Referral Hospital was the easiest and affordable way of showing love to the community given their financial status as students.

The Vice President for the Debate union, Doreen Ainembabazi, said that she was very happy that her team managed to show love to the community without incurring a lot of money. 

"Money is not everything," she admitted.

The management of Kirudu National Referral Hospital expressed gratitude to the KIU Debate Union and the whole KIU fraternity for contributing towards the well being of the community. The Head of Hygiene at the hospital only identified as Madam Marion said that what KIU did was more than a gift on a day like Valentines' day.

‘’I am grateful to you people, surely thank you so much KIU Debate Union and the whole university for bearing such a heart. To me this is more than a valentine’s gift,’’ Madam Marion said.

The team was also joined by the President of the Law Society, Hon. Aliga Raymond, who appreciated the KIU Debate Union for always thinking about the communities they live in. 

The Gladiators Of Intellectual discourse (KIU Debate Union) is one of the students’ think tanks at Kampala International University.