📷 IN PICTURES: Rotary Club of Kampala Munyonyo installs first woman President

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KAMPALA - Hajati Sophia Naamala Bugembe has been installed as the 10th and first female President of the Rotary Club of Kampala Munyonyo at a splendid ceremony that attracted several dignitaries.

Hand in hand with her husband, Hajji Makumbi Bugembe, Hajati Naamala walked to the podium amidst cheers and ululations from her children and other family members and friends, where she was installed by the incoming District 9214 guvnor, Rotarian Francisco Ssemwanga, who at some stage wondered whether it was not a wedding party. 

The function was organized at Speke Resort Beach Munyonyo on June 10, 2023.

Naamala (2nd Left) took over at a time when Rotarians are required to contribute more to help those in need. (All Photos by Eddie Ssejjoba)

Installed Hajati Sophia Naamala Bugembe (R) is the 10th and first female President of the Rotary Club of Kampala Munyonyo.

Naamala took over at a time when Rotarians are required to contribute more to help those in need. 

At the ceremony, Ssemwanga appealed to Rotarians to cut their expenditure on alcohol and contribute more toward supporting the needy and the ‘appalling’ education sector. 

He believes that if Rotarians can cut on the wines and beers and instead spend more on feeding the hungry and starving communities in the Karamoja sub-region, the world will be a better place. 

Hajati Sophia Naamala Bugembe arrives, prior to her installation.

Naamala walked to the podium amidst cheers and ululations.

“As I sip that wine, it should echo inside my heart that there are many children who go without food, something should tell me that there are children in Karamoja who are starving and need my help,” Ssemwanga, whose District 9214 has membership across Uganda and Tanzania remarked.

According to the governor, the demand in the education sector was so high that the government alone cannot satisfy the ever-increasing needs, with the situation so appalling especially in the rural areas that need the intervention of the private sector and institutions like the Rotary Clubs.

During his recent visit to Namato Church of Uganda Primary School in Busoga sub region, the Guvnor was upset to find children still coming to school with no shoes, no school uniform and studying in dusty classrooms.

Naamala with her predecessor Rotarian Cyprian Male Cyprian.

Rotarian Male hugs Naamala after handing over to her.

“Dear Rotarians, we need to spare more money and contribute more for such children who are human beings like us,” he said.

Ssemwanga reminded Rotarians that they did not need to be rich or have a lot of money to contribute, but that they should be mindful of the needs of others.

“You should know that God has blessed us, and we should therefore share with others whatever we get,” he explained, adding that even One Dollar could put a smile on a face and cause a change in one’s life.

The new and first female President of the Rotary Club of Kampala, Munyonyo, Naamala was in the company of her husband Hajji Makumbi Bugembe.

Naamala and husband Hajji Makumbi Bugembe

He commended the club for prioritizing education and literacy, which he said touches on many lives and turns children from poor backgrounds to dine with the rich. 

He said as a teacher, he was passionate about education because it had transformed him despite his poor background.

“Rotary is about doing good in the world, we should be able to create hope in the world and as we celebrate Rotary, we should be able to touch people’s lives by donating even the little we can,” he stressed.

It was such a colorful event!

Several Rotarians turned up for the event.

Naamala took over from the ‘Visionary President’, Rotarian Cyprian Male Cyprian. She committed herself to focusing on supporting children in poor schools to get better services. 

The club supports schools like Sacred Heart of Jesus Nalubudde Primary School in Wakiso and Kyazanga Modern Primary School in Lwengo. It also supports 200 single mothers in Makindye Division who have disabled children, where they have provided sewing machines to enable the women to get a better livelihood.

The club was also supporting Tooro Babies’ Home in Fort Portal.

Naamala and her family

Naamala and her husband

“Following my theme of creating hope, I want to mobilize more people to join our club and raise more money to impact more people, especially in basic education and literacy,” she explained. 

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Bellow is a highlight of pictures from the ceremony, all by Vision Group's multimedia journalist Eddie Ssejjoba;

Rewarding and receiving of certificates 

Cutting cake 

Party time and picture moments