Every fresh week is a new great experience for me this Rotary year. As I continue to visit our amazing Clubs in D9214, I’m wowed at how special and essential Rotarians are to the world.
I started my official visits with the “shy” Rotary Club of Kisugu Victoria view. I commend the club for implementing an innovative WASH and Community Development Project that has transformed YOKA Zone in Namuwongo Slum. We witnessed construction of sanitation facilities, training in sanitation and waste management, access to clean piped water with distribution points, environmentally friendly and economic empowerment activities like briquette-making, a greenhouse and application of urban farming technology. It’s indeed a great project which has created enormous impact in this urban slum. The Club supported the District flagship project with a donation of a village ambulance.
At the Rotary Club of Nalumunye, their Bakungu Buddy Group spearheaded the renovation of a house for an elderly person in their community. Smiles for a new roof, new plaster and indeed a new look were evident on the old man’s face. This new home will surely unlock a world of happiness for the senior citizen. We also commissioned the construction of a roadside shed for travelers, which will serve as a convenient waiting space for many individuals awaiting a bus/taxi/friend. The contribution of two village ambulances by the Club brightened up my visit.
Friday afternoon was another inspiring moment at RC Munyonyo. We visited two impactful projects implemented by the Club. At Sacred Heart of Jesus Nalubudde Primary School, the club planted fruit trees to promote mission green, and have now started planting eucalyptus trees on 20 acres of land that belongs to the church. In addition to promoting the environment among the young students, the club also renovated a classroom block.
Moving on from the school, I decided to “humbly” ride with members in their minibus to the next project location. In recognition of this gesture, the passengers on the minibus contributed $5,000 towards the District’s flagship project. This harvest of $5,000 was added to the already exciting $12,000 that had been raised towards the flagship project resulting in a total donation of $17,000 for the tut-tuk village ambulances.
This mighty club was not yet done. In the “slums” of Konge, we handed over ten (10) sewing machines to support and empower the women who look after children with disabilities. It was disturbing to learn that more than 200 families in Kampala have disabled children, but their mothers lack means to support them. However, it was heartening that Rotarians have intervened to support such families with economic empowerment programs. This is a good project for partnership with other clubs and I advise any club that wants to uplift the lives of the needy mothers to contact RC Munyonyo.
Over the weekend, I presided over the Rotary Camping Fellowship’s Charter celebration at the Nile Nest Resort in Jinja. This annual event drew 160 Rotarians and Rotaractors from 56 clubs from Districts 9213 and 9214. Through this fellowship, we get the chance to make friends and give back to society through camping for hearts by raising funds for the purchase of equipment for the treatment of cardiac diseases. I am eternally grateful to Dr Michael Atingi-Ego, the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, a Rotarian I was honoured to induct at the iconic Rotary Club of Muyenga and a Major Donor to TRF for accepting to preside over as the chief guest. His donation of UGX 20,000,000 on behalf of the Central bank, as well as his personal contribution of USD 1,000 USD will be significant to referral hospitals that support cardiovascular interventions. To all fellow campers, I am honored to be your patron, and I look forward to supporting many more camps as we continue to improve the lives of those we serve.
As we closed the week, the Rotary Club of Seguku which is predominantly female used “classification defence” by donating an incinerator to support menstrual hygiene management at Seguku Primary School. I commend the commitment of these members because, despite the heavy rains, they decided to leave their homes and be part of this visit.
Thank you, Rotarians, for the generous support to our communities, thank you for being there when others need help. And thank you for being YOU, Rotarians with hearts of GOLD.
Yours in Rotary Service,
Peace Taremwa
District Governor 2022 -2023