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Balimwezo pushes Rotary alliance to address Kampala service gaps
The incoming president of the Rotary Club of Kampala City, Joan Naisanga Arapmoi, expressed readiness to work with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in addressing community challenges through joint efforts.
Kampala Lord Mayor Eng. Ronald Balimwezo commended Rotary for its work in education, healthcare, community development and peacebuilding. (File photo)
By: Dedan Kimathi, Journalist @New Vision
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Kampala Lord Mayor Eng. Ronald Balimwezo has appealed to charitable organisations to partner with city leadership in addressing pressing social challenges, arguing that government alone cannot meet the growing needs of the capital’s rapidly expanding population.
The former Nakawa East legislator made the appeal on June 27, 2026, while officiating at the installation of the ninth president of the Rotary Club of Kampala City, Joan Naisanga Arapmoi, held at Parliament’s conference hall.
Access to clean drinking water
Balimwezo commended Rotary for its work in education, healthcare, community development and peacebuilding, saying the organisation has demonstrated that lasting change begins with selfless leadership, values he said both sides could build on to advance sustainable development, which remains elusive for many Kampala residents.
“When you go out there, people don’t have palatable drinking water. Yesterday, I was called by a certain community and it had no palatable water in Nateete, and today I reached out to one investor, he actually told me that he is going to give them water. Long time ago, we used to fetch water at the shores of Lake Victoria, today when you look at the quality of water at the shores, it is terrible. You cannot even step in it. Why? Because of you and I,” he illustrated.
Poor state of education
He added that the education sector is struggling significantly.
“In Uganda, we produce 2.4 million babies every year. According to Ministry of Education 1.88 million pupils begin Primary One, seven years down the road only 740,000 sit for their Primary Seven exams. That means that 1.1 million pupils do not complete Primary Seven. Human Capital development is very critical. There are countries that have grown simply because of education,” he stated.
He further noted that many people involved in violent crime have not been equipped with skills and opportunities for decent livelihoods, stressing the need for organisations such as Rotary Club of Kampala City to support interventions that redirect vulnerable groups towards productive paths.
“When you go out there, people don’t have palatable drinking water. Yesterday, I was called by a certain community and it had no palatable water in Nateete, and today I reached out to one investor, he actually told me that he is going to give them water. Long time ago, we used to fetch water at the shores of Lake Victoria, today when you look at the quality of water at the shores, it is terrible. You cannot even step in it. Why? Because of you and I,” he illustrated.
Poor state of education
He added that the education sector is struggling significantly.
“In Uganda, we produce 2.4 million babies every year. According to Ministry of Education 1.88 million pupils begin Primary One, seven years down the road only 740,000 sit for their Primary Seven exams. That means that 1.1 million pupils do not complete Primary Seven. Human Capital development is very critical. There are countries that have grown simply because of education,” he stated.
He further noted that many people involved in violent crime have not been equipped with skills and opportunities for decent livelihoods, stressing the need for organisations such as Rotary Club of Kampala City to support interventions that redirect vulnerable groups towards productive paths.
“When you look at Kampala alone, the education policy is clear that every parish must have a Government primary school. Today as we speak, we have 101 parishes in Kampala, and some of these parishes have a population greater than some districts out there. Mutungo parish, with over 120,000 people, has no Government Primary school. Of the 101, only 50 parishes have primary schools, and the so-called Government schools in Kampala are faith-based primary schools owned by the Muslims and Catholics. Literally Government only has 23 purely public primary schools,” Balimwezo explained.
Health and waste management concerns
Balimwezo also highlighted challenges in the health sector, noting that about 80 percent of diseases affecting city residents are linked to poor hygiene and waste disposal.
“We generate 2,500 tonnes of garbage per day, of the poorest quality. Because we mix it, we don’t separate it at source. People put pampers, feaces and this is the reason that we have several diseases,” he cited.
He said these diseases have a direct impact on productivity levels in the city. He also revealed that he recently identified an investor with a waste processing machine capable of converting garbage into useful products.
“He has a machine, you bring in all the garbage, it sorts out only metal. The rest is crushed into a synthetic powder, and from this you produce wood harder than some of the natural wood, electricity, fuel, and briquettes. Today we cut 84,000 hectares of trees for biomass, and you are aware one of the critical roles of Rotary is to protect the environment. One of the dangerous green gases is carbon dioxide. We only collect 770 tonnes of garbage out of 2,500, the rest is burnt, dumped and very soon I am going to partner with you to have a critical stakeholder’s engagement,” Balimwezo submitted.
Balimwezo and Rotary ties
Balimwezo’s connection with Rotary dates back to the early 2000s when he lost a leg in a road accident at the Shoprite Lugogo junction. At the time, he was a town engineer in Luwero returning home on a motorbike when he was knocked by a speeding vehicle.
“I had lost hope and began lecturing at Kyambogo. That is when the Rotary club of Kyambogo called me for a prosthetic. So, the artificial limb I got first was from Rotary. I was able to go back on my two legs and compete with the so-called able people. That’s when I knew disability is in the brain, I have been able to go through ranks as a person with physical disability,” he narrated.
“Had I not been helped by Rotary; I would be a street beggar perhaps,” Balimwezo emphasised.
Incoming president speaks out
The incoming president of the Rotary Club of Kampala City, Joan Naisanga Arapmoi, expressed readiness to work with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in addressing community challenges through joint efforts.
“Our hands will be full but our hearts fuller as we execute our lineup of projects as stated below; Bulamuka Primary School (situated in Kamuli district), Kifumbira medical camp, September Gold, Harvard Nursery and Primary School and Wakisa Ministries,” Naisanga pledged.
Stakeholders speak
Naisanga is the wife of veteran journalist Daniel Arap Moi. Former Parliament publicist Hellen Kaweesa said the two met while Arap Moi was reporting from Parliament, where she also worked at the time.
“She currently serves as an office supervisor under the estates and facilities management division at the Parliament of Uganda…”
She added that Naisanga provides protocol services for high-profile national and parliamentary events, including the recent swearing-in ceremony of lawmakers, and is a pioneer charter member of the Rotary Club of Kampala City, having joined in 2017.
Second deputy premier of Buganda Owek. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, who also serves as past district governor (PDG), thanked outgoing president Evasta Kahunde Bugeiga for her service.
“I had the honor to be appointed by the Governor as a new club advisor to start this Rotary Club of Kampala City. The story is very long and I won’t go into it but I am delighted we are going to have a President who is going to start the celebration of a decade in earnest….” Nsibirwa pointed out.
Health and waste management concerns
Balimwezo also highlighted challenges in the health sector, noting that about 80 percent of diseases affecting city residents are linked to poor hygiene and waste disposal.
“We generate 2,500 tonnes of garbage per day, of the poorest quality. Because we mix it, we don’t separate it at source. People put pampers, feaces and this is the reason that we have several diseases,” he cited.
He said these diseases have a direct impact on productivity levels in the city. He also revealed that he recently identified an investor with a waste processing machine capable of converting garbage into useful products.
“He has a machine, you bring in all the garbage, it sorts out only metal. The rest is crushed into a synthetic powder, and from this you produce wood harder than some of the natural wood, electricity, fuel, and briquettes. Today we cut 84,000 hectares of trees for biomass, and you are aware one of the critical roles of Rotary is to protect the environment. One of the dangerous green gases is carbon dioxide. We only collect 770 tonnes of garbage out of 2,500, the rest is burnt, dumped and very soon I am going to partner with you to have a critical stakeholder’s engagement,” Balimwezo submitted.
Balimwezo and Rotary ties
Balimwezo’s connection with Rotary dates back to the early 2000s when he lost a leg in a road accident at the Shoprite Lugogo junction. At the time, he was a town engineer in Luwero returning home on a motorbike when he was knocked by a speeding vehicle.
“I had lost hope and began lecturing at Kyambogo. That is when the Rotary club of Kyambogo called me for a prosthetic. So, the artificial limb I got first was from Rotary. I was able to go back on my two legs and compete with the so-called able people. That’s when I knew disability is in the brain, I have been able to go through ranks as a person with physical disability,” he narrated.
“Had I not been helped by Rotary; I would be a street beggar perhaps,” Balimwezo emphasised.
Incoming president speaks out
The incoming president of the Rotary Club of Kampala City, Joan Naisanga Arapmoi, expressed readiness to work with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in addressing community challenges through joint efforts.
“Our hands will be full but our hearts fuller as we execute our lineup of projects as stated below; Bulamuka Primary School (situated in Kamuli district), Kifumbira medical camp, September Gold, Harvard Nursery and Primary School and Wakisa Ministries,” Naisanga pledged.
Stakeholders speak
Naisanga is the wife of veteran journalist Daniel Arap Moi. Former Parliament publicist Hellen Kaweesa said the two met while Arap Moi was reporting from Parliament, where she also worked at the time.
“She currently serves as an office supervisor under the estates and facilities management division at the Parliament of Uganda…”
She added that Naisanga provides protocol services for high-profile national and parliamentary events, including the recent swearing-in ceremony of lawmakers, and is a pioneer charter member of the Rotary Club of Kampala City, having joined in 2017.
Second deputy premier of Buganda Owek. Robert Waggwa Nsibirwa, who also serves as past district governor (PDG), thanked outgoing president Evasta Kahunde Bugeiga for her service.
“I had the honor to be appointed by the Governor as a new club advisor to start this Rotary Club of Kampala City. The story is very long and I won’t go into it but I am delighted we are going to have a President who is going to start the celebration of a decade in earnest….” Nsibirwa pointed out.