Rotary, Buganda kingdom team up to expand blood donation drive
The club will focus on blood donation drives, peace initiatives, environmental conservation, youth engagement, vocational service and buddy group projects.
Lynn Odul (left), Assistant Governor, and Oscar Rwigema (right), Past Assistant Governor, present Dr Frederick Bakandonda as the new President of the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala during his installation ceremony at St Anthony’s Restaurant in Nakasero on June 24, 2026. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)
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Community health will be the top priority for the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala during the 2026/2027 Rotary year, with the club unveiling an ambitious partnership with the Buganda kingdom to expand blood donation across the region.
Speaking after taking office as the club's new president, Dr Fredrick Bakandonda said the club will focus on blood donation drives, peace initiatives, environmental conservation, youth engagement, vocational service and buddy group projects.
“We cannot build strong communities without healthy people. Starting July 25th, working with clubs sponsored by the Rotary Club of Kampala South, we shall carry out a mega medical camp. This camp will focus on immunisation, extend medical care to the young people, give maternal care to mothers, and also screen for cancers,” explained Bakandonda.
The club aims to collect 1,000 units of blood through the blood donation drive.
“To extend our services to Eastern Uganda, we are also working with the Rotaract Club of Mbale Uptown to carry out a health camp on the road. We will carry out phase one in Iganga, and then phase II will be extended to Mbale.”
Bakandonda said the club will also intensify environmental conservation by promoting tree planting, educating communities on the use of sustainable energy and encouraging measures to reduce pollution.
He made the remarks during the leadership handover ceremony of the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala at St Anthony's Restaurant in Nakasero on June 27, 2026.
The event, attended by Rotarians, Rotaractors, friends and development partners, saw outgoing president Immy Nakyeyune hand over leadership to Bakandonda, the club's second president, who outlined his priorities for the year ahead.
Oscar Rwigema (third left), Past Assistant Governor; Dr Frederick Bakandonda and his wife, Immy Nakyeyune; outgoing President (second right); Assistant Governor Lynn Odul (right); and fellow Rotarians cut a cake during the installation ceremony at St Anthony’s Restaurant in Nakasero on June 27, 2026. (Photo by Juliet Kasirye)
According to club members, the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala has over the past three years implemented community development initiatives focusing on education, healthcare, polio vaccination drives, financial literacy, youth empowerment, peacebuilding and support for the Rotary Foundation.
Bakandonda's Rotary journey
Bakandonda previously served as president of the Rotaract Club of Busitema University Faculty of Health Sciences, charter president of Rotaract Club of Mbale Uptown, Rotaract District Conference Assembly Chair for District 9211 and inaugural Lieutenant District Rotaract Representative for District 9213, among other leadership roles.
He is a medical doctor and resident in the Department of Internal Medicine at Mulago National Referral Hospital and holds a Master of Medicine in Internal Medicine from Makerere University.
Having joined Rotaract in 2017, Bakandonda is a charter member and now president of the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala.
Beyond his professional and Rotary achievements, he is married and said leadership is about serving alongside people rather than above them.
Past assistant governor Oscar Rwigema reminded Rotarians to remain focused on Rotary's mission of service, integrity and peace.
“Our mission reminds us that small, well-executed acts of service can prevent disease, improve education, expand opportunity and restore dignity. Let us commit to showing up and making an impact.” Rwigema stated.
Club founded to ease Rotaract transition
Outgoing president Nakyeyune said she founded the Rotary Club of Uptown Kampala three years ago together with Dr Bakandonda and Francis Adule to create a platform where former Rotaractors could transition easily into Rotary.
“Since we were exposed to the world of Rotary through Rotaract, in 2024, we decided to start a club where former Rotaractors can easily transition to Rotary. We wanted to challenge ourselves as past leaders in Rotaract to begin something,” disclosed Nakyeyune.
She acknowledged that establishing a Rotary club required significant effort, resources and commitment to attract charter members.
Nakyeyune said the club has relied on both members' contributions and corporate partnerships to finance its activities.
“For these three years, we have a number of partners supporting us through the medical camps, through planting trees, among others. For this past year, we have managed to collect about sh11 million from corporate partners. It is through the corporate partners and contributions from members that we managed to execute these projects.” Nakyeyune said.
She expressed confidence that the new leadership would strengthen membership engagement, expand partnerships, increase the club's community impact and enhance its visibility within Uganda and the wider Rotary network.