New Rotaract Club targets health, leadership gaps in communities

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A newly chartered youth-led service club in Muyenga, Kampala city, says it has set sights on tackling maternal health challenges and strengthening leadership among young people, with a promise to deliver tangible community impact.

Speaking shortly after her installation, incoming president Leticia Nakazibwe said the Rotaract Club of Muyenga Beacon of Hope will prioritise maternal and child health, particularly in underserved areas.

The newly installed club president shows her Rotary leadership chain. (Courtesy)

“We want to create a visible impact in our communities. Our focus is to empower, educate and uplift,” she said.

The club, birthed by the Rotary Club of Muyenga and officially chartered on May 2, 2026, at Las Vegas Garden Hotel, enters the family with a vibrant membership of 73 young people, predominantly university students, signalling a growing shift of youth engagement in service and leadership.

Nakazibwe revealed that their flagship project will focus on improving conditions in maternal health facilities, starting with renovations of selected wards in Hoima.

“There are places where mothers give birth on the floor, like Azul medical centre. We want to change that,” she said.

“We shall implement this project in phases, doing one thing at a time until we complete it.”

Beyond infrastructure, the club plans to roll out awareness campaigns targeting mothers who do not access health facilities, a factor contributing to maternal mortality.

“We also want to reach out to young girls and mothers with information that can help them make better health decisions,” she added.

The club will also invest in leadership development through trainings across institutions, as well as youth engagement activities such as sports events and social meet-ups aimed at growing membership and awareness.

We are reaching a wider community

Outgoing charter president Karungi Prettie Besigomwe, a first-year student at Makerere University Business School, described the milestone as both humbling and transformative.

“I am very proud of my club being chartered. We started small, but we have grown into something impactful, reaching a wider community,” she said.

Besigomwe highlighted the club’s early achievements, including blood donation drives, tree planting, and outreach to elderly and children’s homes.

“One of our biggest achievements was a blood drive at Makerere University, where we collected over 80 units of blood.”

However, she acknowledged the challenges of leading a diverse, student-based team but noted that the experience had sharpened her leadership and interpersonal skills.

“It was not easy, especially as a first-time leader, but it has changed how I think and how I approach challenges,” she said.

She urged her successor to build on the foundation laid and emphasised that Rotaract is not limited to the affluent, as often perceived.

“We are students, but we give the little we have just to make someone feel better.”

Embrace intentional leadership

Chief guest Prof Augustus Nuwagaba challenged the young leaders to embrace intentional leadership as a driver of development.

“The problems we are facing are not complex. It is about leadership and how we manage the resources we already have,” he said.

He urged the club to uphold values of professionalism, dignity and accountability in their service.

Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Prof. Augustus Nuwagaba installing Leticia Nakazibwe as the new club president. At his right is outgoing charter president Karungi Prettie Besigomwe. (Courtesy)

District Rotaract Representative Alebor Kanyonza pin the outgoing charter president as other club members take a close look. (Courtesy)

Cake cutting moment. (Courtesy)

Officiating the ceremony, District Rotaract Representative Alebor Kanyonza called for sustained collaboration and meaningful engagement to ensure the club’s longevity.

“One challenge we have seen is clubs being formed and then neglected. What stands out about this club is their collaboration. That collective effort is what Rotary needs,” she said.

Kanyonza urged members to prioritise impactful projects and create a good experience for members.

“We do not get new members by invitation alone; it’s about the experience we give. Let’s create value, family, and purpose.”

Representing the mother club, Vice President Herbert Lubega Masengere expressed pride in the club’s expansion, noting that Muyenga Rotary has now birthed 22 clubs.

“You are here to serve humanity. Engage your members and commit to meaningful service because this is what keeps Rotary in motion,” he said.