PRESIDENT JANE BOWS OUT
Our District Governor Geeta Manek said at the beginning of the year ‘Remember to celebrate the achievements of the past and lay out a better future’. This was the theme that run throughout the RC Kampala South Rotary year 2012-13.
We celebrated 20 years of achievements in the Club in our Charter Night celebration. The organization of the grand ceremony was spearheaded by our very own Past Presidents under the leadership of PP Joseph Baroraho. They pulled it off in a ceremony full of fellowship, fond memories, and fun plus fundraising for our Tumaini Project. We had the rare occasion to be eye witnesses to our very smart PP Michael complete with a bow tie and to hear the joke of the evening from PP Antony who did not wear a tie purportedly in sympathy with his brother PP Mike! We are truly honoured greatly appreciate each and every one of our Past Presidents for their continued dedication to the Club and support throughout the Rotary year. Thank you all very much!
During our Rotary year we also celebrated our last year as District 9200 and the birth of our new twin Districts 9211 and 9212. Congratulations to Naloongo Geeta and our DG Emmanuel Katongole.
The theme for the year was Peace through Service and RI President Sakuji Tanaka asked all Rotarians to ‘actively work for Peace through service beginning with every individual, family, club, district, region and nation’. We incorporated this theme in our plans for the year and carried out service projects that address the root causes of conflict like diseases, illiteracy, and poverty.
We chartered a second RCC at Ddundu-Dewe Jjanyi, alongside our RCC in Nyachoonga. The processing of the project applications for the two RCCs, through WASHRAG, is at the final stages and we expect approvals of both projects in the very near future. The projects will be implemented in the year 2013/14.
We closed our flagship project Jjanyi Primary School after the construction of additional classrooms and donation of reading materials. The closure was marked with celebrations and joint prayers where we were awarded a certificate of appreciation by the Church and the Community. There was lots of entertainment with dancing and sports including a relay and a foot ball match. Jjanyi Women Athletics Club won the relay while RC Kampala South FC won the football match. The excitement was electric as a very fit Jjaja in a gomesi overtook our athletic RC Kampala South Ladies!
We broke ground at our new flagship project, ‘Construction of Kikandwa Health Centre’ where we have partnered with RC Des Mois AM and Students of Drakes University Iowa, USA. The ground breaking ceremony was on 9th June 2013. The three phased Health Centre will have out patients, in patients and a maternity wing.
We also had a Christmas party with the orphans at Gods Grace orphanage and the smile on the little faces of the children was invaluable.
For these and many other projects not mentioned, I would like to thank Director Projects, Wendy Kasujja, her deputy and RCC Officer PP Donnan Byabazaire and their team and congratulate them all for the great job done! Thank you Wendy for leading the team. Thank you for the dedication and commitment exhibited and for delivering as promised! I would also like to thank the Club Members, and the Visiting Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and Guests for joining us in all our project visits.
Vice President David Tabaro took time off his heavy VP schedule to organize the successful Rotary Family Health Day at Jjanyi. We partnered with our daughter Interact Club of Bishop Sisto Mazzoldi SSS and Kajjansi Health Centre to provide general health care, immunization and de-worming, HIV counseling and testing, safe male circumcision and family planning services. Thank you VP David and your team for a great job done!
We took fun and fellowship to another level. Our fellowships became the talk of the year. Personalized invitations were sent out through our web site. The meticulous painstaking processes to get us value adding and yet interesting and exciting guest speakers paid off and we had potential guest speakers asking to be included in our fellowship slots, which was unprecedented. Our fellowships were packed with members, visiting Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and guests throughout the year. We had international Rotarians that had visited our web site asking to attend our fellowships and others just coming to join us when in Kampala.
The level of organization in the administration of the Club was exemplary and for this I am forever indebted to PP Antony Mwandha and his Club Administration Team which included Secretary Rita Tinka, Treasurer Geoffrey Kitakule, ICT Officer Peter Mukuru, Attendance Officer Priscilla Tuhirirwe and Sergeant at Arms PP Michael Ojok. Thank you PP Antony and Team for the geat job done!
I had the privilege to serve as Director Club Administration during PP Antony’s year of presidency. At the end of the Presidency he said thus: ‘Jane, I owe you and I will pay you back by being Club Administrator during your year as President’. Not only has PP Antony honoured his promise, but he has now put me into indebtedness by such outstanding performance of his role as Club Administrator, presidential adviser and a dear, dear friend. Thank you PP Antony.
The unsung hero is the Internal Auditor Team led by PP Aggrey Kankunda. They constantly monitored and evaluated Club finances and affairs and kept us on the ‘straight and narrow’ thus contributing greatly to our successes. PP Aggrey went a step further to help the daughter Rotaract Clubs set up their financial systems and offered support on club stewardship. Thank you PP Aggrey and your team for a great job done!
This year our PR machinery was in over drive and the Rotary Club of Kampala South was a house hold name in Rotary circles. We acquired a new web site with wonderful features including a dynamic ebulletin which we sent weekly to the ‘Friends of the Club’ with news, information, and pictorials of Club and Rotary in general. Alongside the conventional PR machinery, we used social media like sms, and face book to publicize Kampala South activities. The Club was also honoured to co-host the inter city conference with RC Lira. In addition to our PR activities two articles from RC Kampala South were included in the Souvenir D9200 Magazine. Director PR, Irene Namuli got challenges along the way and had to step back, but had set up machinery that was able to take us to the end of the Rotary year. Thank you Irene and PR team for a great job done!
Kampala South had a number of home hospitalities, some of which were combined with vocational tours. Birthdays were celebrated and we had unique December fellowships with Members dressed in Santa attire. A group photo of members constituted our Christmas card for the year and we had the family fellowship where some children and spouses attended. For keeping us together as a family I would like to appreciate Rotarian Kimberly Kasana, Directors Family of Rotary, and her team for a great job done!
The Vocational team, under the leadership of PP Parity, organized two vocational trips to Members workplaces and the vocational award in October. They delivered on their goals 100% and synergy with the Family of Rotary Directorate is commendable. I would like to thank PP Parity and his team for the great job done!
We planned to grow in Membership and towards this we had a comprehensive recruitment, orientation and retention plan. Directors Membership Rtn Jennifer Byokysheka and her team revived the annual Rotary Awareness day, in conjunction with RC Kiwatule. The members of the public were invited and presentations on Rotary made to then by senior Rotarians including Country Chair Robert Nsibirwa Waggwa. IPP Jackie, as trainer and part of the Membership Committee organized training for the Club and the Club Members also participated in the trainings organized by the Country Office. Rotarian Jennifer in her quiet but assertive manner delivered her Membership goals. Thank you Jennifer and your team for the great job done!
We planned to charter one Interact Club, one community based Rotaract Club and one institution based Rotaract Club during the year. Director New Generations, Rtn Patrick Lassu and his Team delivered 100% and we are now blessed with three children: the Interact Club of Bishop Mazzoldi Senior Secondary School, the Rotaract Club of Kampala South and the Rotaract Club of International University of East Africa. All clubs are fully fledged and actively participating in projects. What does one call a father of triplets? Thank you Patrick and your Team for the great job done!
We contributed above US$ 7,000 to TRF this year. We continue to encourage new PHFs and sustaining members in the Club. Our application for our Club to lead the GSE team to America was successful and PAG Carol Abeja successfully executed this duty. We had an unprecedented number of attendees at the DCA in Mombasa where there was a lot of heat, beach, fun and fellowship. RC Kampala South was awarded the Community International Award by DG Geeta Manek. Our twining arrangement with RC Milimani of Nairobi was successful concluded and we signed off the Memorandum of Understanding at the DCA in Mombasa. TRF Directorate is a tough one to run but the level of activities in TRF and international services by club members this year is unprecedented. Thank you Director TRF and International Services PP David Kahwa and your Team for a great job done!
PE Esther Mwambu, despite her busy planning schedule in preparation for her year as President, was able to attend to club activities and offer advice as appropriate. Thank you PE Esther for your time.
Our Assistant Governor Sam Mwanje is the best boss any one would wish for. He will guide you and then let you get on with the job. When you run back to him with mistakes made and or more guidance, he will patiently help set you back on the right track then let you get on with the job once again. He was always available for meetings with Board or one on one with the President, on phone, and regularly attended our Club fellowships. If he is stuck he would immediately consult for advice so that the issue is sorted out immediately. He was ‘on our neck’ to make applications for the District awards and his efforts paid off.
AG Sam, for all the fatherly guidance, love and patience you have had for this Club I would like to thank you. Our success is your personal success so we share with you all the successes that the Club was able to achieve during your watch as Assistant Governor of this Club. Thank you AG Sam for a great job done!
Last but not least, I like to appreciate my husband, CD Langoya and children, Moses and Andrew, for the tremendous support offered during my year as President of the Rotary Club of Kampala South. The fact that they could not have my usual undivided attention hit them hard, but they persevered with great love and understanding. Thank you CD, Moses and Andrew for agreeing to share me with Rotary.
Once again I thank the Members for offering me the opportunity to steer the Club during the year. It was a most enjoyable and fulfilling experience. I hand over to PE Esther a very vibrant Club and pledge with my outgoing Board to continue supporting the President and the Club.
THANK YOU.
Jane Okot P’ Bitek Langoya
President 2012/13