Amuge takes helm at Rotaract Club of Muyenga, pledges lasting community impact
The club plans to construct an improved public pit latrine in Kanyogoga Village, Makindye Division, conduct a major health outreach and lay the groundwork for a community health facility.
Patience Purity Amuge, the newly installed president of the Rotaract Club of Muyenga with the office instruments of power as other Rotarians and Retractors look on. This was during the seventh presidential installation of the Rotaract Club of Muyenga at Palace Playtime Park in Kampala on July 25, 2026. (Credit: Lawrence Mulondo)
KAMPALA - Patience Purity Amuge has been installed as the seventh President of the Rotaract Club of Muyenga, District 9241, for the 2026/2027 Rotary year, succeeding Charles Luuma, who completed his one-year term of service.
Amuge took the oath of office during a colourful ceremony held at Palace Playtime Park in Kampala on Saturday, where she pledged to lead the club in implementing projects that leave a lasting impact on communities.
In her acceptance speech, Amuge said her leadership would focus on initiatives that transform lives and strengthen the club's connection with the communities it serves.
“This year, when a mother needs support, we should be there. When a youth needs mentorship, we should be there. When a child needs an opportunity, we should create one,” she said.
She added that the club would go beyond identifying community challenges by taking practical steps to address them.
“I’m not stepping into this role because I believe I have all the answers. I’m stepping into it because I believe in what we can achieve together,” she said.
Amuge said she wanted the club to undertake projects that would leave a lasting legacy rather than initiatives that are completed and quickly forgotten. She called on members to actively support her leadership, noting that success would depend on teamwork.
“A president without a team is just a person with a title. I need your ideas, your hands, your time, your connections and, occasionally, your financial support,” she said.
She pledged to build a culture where every member has a voice, every contribution is linked to meaningful impact, and no one is left behind.
Amuge, a legal professional with experience in legislative affairs, corporate legal advisory, governance and strategic communications, also unveiled the club’s flagship community project for the new Rotary year.
Transforming Kanyogoga Village
The club plans to construct an improved public pit latrine in Kanyogoga Village, Makindye Division, conduct a major health outreach and lay the groundwork for a community health facility.
The project builds on last year's adoption of Kanyogoga Village as the club's model community. Since then, members have been supporting vulnerable families, particularly mothers raising children with autism, through donations and community outreach.
The club's Director of Projects, Everline Lumonya, said the densely populated informal settlement faces serious Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) challenges, with hundreds of residents relying on a few overcrowded public toilets.
She noted that many households are headed by single mothers who were abandoned after giving birth to children with disabilities, leaving them to shoulder the responsibility of caregiving with limited financial resources.
“Our first priority is to construct an eight-stance improved pit latrine to improve sanitation and hygiene. We also want to empower these mothers with skills that will enable them to earn sustainable incomes,” Lumonya said.
Patience Purity Amuge (C) being dressed with a presidential chain of office by Rotarian Madrine Nakachwa (L) and CK Japheth the founder of Innovation Village Uganda as the seventh president of the Rotaract Club of Muyenga. This was during the seventh presidential installation of the Rotaract Club of Muyenga at Palace Playtime Park in Kampala on July 25, 2026. (Credit: Lawrence Mulondo)
She added that the club is working with local leaders to secure land for a community health facility after residents identified access to healthcare as one of their greatest challenges.
“Many families travel long distances to access specialised care, especially for children with autism. A nearby health facility would make a significant difference,” she said.
Lumonya appealed to organisations and well-wishers to partner with the club in transforming the lives of Kanyogoga residents.
Outgoing president reflects on achievements
He also cited support extended to a health facility in Namuwongo, where the club donated a stretcher bed, a delivery bed and two wheelchairs.
“I was happy that the very day we delivered the equipment, it immediately started serving mothers bringing new life into the world,” Luuma recalled.
He encouraged the new leadership to continue the annual hospital equipment donation initiative and urged members to rally behind the incoming president.
“Leadership is never a one-person effort. With the new president, we have a Joshua to lead us to the promised land,” he said.
He called on the new board to lead with humility, integrity and compassion, reminding them that every decision should leave the club stronger than they found it.
Service as an investment
The guest of honour, CK Japheth, founder of Innovation Village Uganda, challenged Rotaractors to embrace the values of service, gratitude and personal growth.
He reminded members that although Rotary began in 1905 as a business networking organisation, it evolved into a global movement dedicated to service above self.
“Your membership in Rotaract is an investment in your communities, your future and other people. Every investment brings returns, even if you do not know when they will come,” Japheth said.
He commended the young professionals for choosing to build communities, expand their networks and serve others at an early stage in their careers.
The ceremony also saw the induction of five members, while outstanding Rotaractors were recognised for exceptional service. The event concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony to celebrate the new leadership before guests and members shared a dinner.