Our first KNN for the Rotary year 2025/26 is out! Hooray! How excited I am, that we get to yet again document or share what we are doing with our members and our wider community. For me, I feel like I am on a conveyor belt/roller coaster of sorts given the busy nature of the rotary program. I am grateful that our members have joined me and the executive team on this journey whole heartedly and as a result, we are delivering what we set out to do in our action plan.
Rotary International has recently approved significant updates to the Standard Club Bylaws and Constitution, following the decisions of the 2025 Council on Legislation. These changes, effective July 1, 2025, are designed to strengthen governance, simplify club operations, and ensure our organization remains inclusive and relevant in today’s world.
As a club, we need to be aware of these updates, since they will guide our practices, reporting, and expectations of membership. The following executive summary highlights the key changes.
I have included a comprehensive comparison table of what has changed.
New clubs can now be chartered with a minimum of 15 members instead of 20.
Rotary International dues will increase, beginning at US$41 per member in 2025–26.
District conferences are no longer mandatory (though still encouraged).
A clear process for officer or committee removal has been introduced.
Rotary remains non-political, but clubs may act on issues directly tied to Rotary’s mission.
Diversity, equity, and inclusion rules have been expanded, strengthening protections.
Membership should reflect not only professions but also demographic diversity.
Attendance rules have broadened to include RI and district events.
Clubs must now present a mid-year financial report by January 31 in addition to the annual report.
The RI Board has been given stronger authority to act if clubs do not address issues.
Club Attendance Officer, Rtn. Mary Immaculate Nalunga, has released the final tally of the August attendance. The figures reveal some interesting data trends. For example
The average on-spot (i.e. Physical Club attendance):29.8%
The average Online attendance was:25.3%
The average Overall:71.1% (includes Club, Online, and Makeups)
On 18-Aug-25 Physical Club attendance was higher than Online. Club attendance was 35 while online was 11
At their September 8, 2025 meeting, the Rotary Club of Kampala North hosted Joyce Mukonyezi, Executive Director of Wakisa Ministries, who addressed the alarming rise in teenage pregnancy in Uganda.
Uganda has one of the highest rates in Sub-Saharan Africa, with more than 30% of girls becoming mothers before 19. During the COVID-19 lockdowns alone, over 290,000 pregnancies were recorded.
Mukonyezi attributed this crisis to poverty, school dropouts, lack of reproductive health education, gender inequality, harmful cultural practices, and poor parenting. She shared stories of young girls rescued by Wakisa Ministries, who now receive shelter, counseling, skills training, and spiritual support.
Rotarians were called to action through education sponsorships, funding reproductive health workshops, supporting shelter programs, and policy advocacy.
“Teenage pregnancy is not just a health issue—it is a human rights and development issue,” Mukonyezi concluded. “Together, we can turn pain into purpose and restore hope for Uganda’s daughters.”
Mary Helda Akongo is the Donor Relations Manager at Fundi Bots, an organisation that is transforming science education in Africa. Before this role, she was the Fundi Girls Program Manager. Before Fundi Bots, she managed operations and programs at Zimba Women, supporting over 10,000 female entrepreneurs with e-solutions and market access.
Mary Helda holds a Bachelor of Information Technology from Makerere University, with strong expertise in human-centered design, innovation and program design and management. She serves on the Board of Trustees at United Social Ventures, contributing to the organization's growth. As a Coordinating Ambassador for One Young World, she led community-building efforts in 14 East African countries.
She is a recognized global leader, receiving awards such as the Facebook Social Entrepreneurship Award, Internet Society 25 under 25 Award, and World Bank #Blog4Dev accolade. Mary Helda firmly believes in technology and design's power to positively impact Africa's social, political, and economic development for women and the underprivileged.
Mary Helda Akongo is the Donor Relations Manager at Fundi Bots, an organisation that is transforming science education in Africa. Before this role, she was the Fundi Girls Program Manager. Before Fundi Bots, she managed operations and programs at Zimba Women, supporting over 10,000 female entrepreneurs with e-solutions and market access.