Dear Jude Lubega,
A famous Chinese saying goes, “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody. ” For centuries, the greatest thinkers have suggested the same thing: happiness is found in helping others.
I’m delighted that, as Rotarians, we get to convey this type of joy every week via our service projects, and I am moved by the opportunity to experience these projects during my official club visits.
In the week of 26th September, I visited the Rotary Clubs of Rubaga, Natete, Mutundwe and Bwebajja where I had inspiring moments that I share below.
Through the Rotary Club of Rubaga, I visited St Lawrence University where the club conducted a medical camp in partnership with Rubaga Hospital. Medical camps always extend free services to many who procrastinate decisions to go for healthcare due to unaffordable costs. and I appreciated their efforts in improving the health of the community members in their area.
The Rotary Club of Nateete Kampala provided various household items to the community being supported by L’ARCHE Uganda, an NGO which cares for people with learning disabilities in such a way that each person can grow with respect to their own potential. It was humbling to get a vote of thanks from the mute and further moving to see that they also shared the little they had with us. I hope that the clubs around Nateete can join hands to create bigger impact in the lives of this neighborhood.
My visit to the Rotary Club of Mutundwe was also very memorable. The club went in high gear to support our district flagship project. At the visit of Theresa Catholic Primary School, we were able to see progress of a three-classroom block being constructed by the Club. And the donation of medical equipment to Bunamwaya Health Centre II augmented our District Flagship project on maternal and Child Health.
RC Bwebajja was fully engaged in various projects in Jinja, the weekend that closed our first quarter. I commend the club for the various projects they undertook that included a medical camp at Centre III that served over 1500 patients/beneficiaries, tree planting, sanitation and hygiene, and literacy. I had the privilege of inaugurating their tree planting project in the community at Bugerere Primary School and later visited the projects that make of reusable sanitary towels and produce liquid soap.
These, and many other projects I have visited during the 1st quarter of our Rotary year give us sufficient reason to shine bright and share our shine with the world.
The week of 3rd October started our second quarter with more memorable experience to cherish. I was humbled to join the Rotary Club of Bwerenga’s for their basic education and literacy project at Bugiri Primary School. This is RC Bwerenga’s signature project. They have established a safe water program for the school, plastered and closed one classroom block. They are greening the school by planting trees, and I was humbled to commission the roofing of classroom Block Two. I also acknowledge the Club’s contribution of USD5,000 to our district’s maternal child health flagship project.
In Buyiga Islands, Rotary Club of Rubaga Lake View is already transforming lives with the 6 boreholes that have been constructed as part of a project to supply clean, safe water for the island’s population. In support of basic education and literacy, we visited Buyiga Primary School and painted one of their classroom blocks. The buildings were present, although they were in terrible shape. RC Rubaga Lake view has renovated these old buildings to give students a comfortable study space.
Every sunrise gives us one more day to hope.
Every one of these great projects is the sunrise to many of the communities that had no hope. You are the Ray of hope. And thank you for each new day you have given to the hopeless communities.
Peace Taremwa
District Governor 2022 -2023