New Rotary governor unveils vision to impact Uganda

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The newly installed Rotary District Governor for District 9213, Geoffrey Martin Kitakule, has unveiled a roadmap focused on deepening community engagement, expanding membership, and enhancing the visibility of Rotary’s impact across Uganda.

Addressing a press briefing at Protea Hotel in Kampala last week, Kitakule emphasised the need to "unite for good" as the guiding theme for his term in office.

Kitakule, who now leads a district comprising 137 Rotary clubs and 134 Rotaract clubs with more than 5,000 Rotarians and over 3,000 Rotaractors, said Rotary will intensify listening to communities to tailor solutions that align with their needs.

“Rotary is here to do good, and we want to ensure our work resonates with the real needs of Ugandans,” he stated.

With Rotary’s global legacy spanning over 150 years, the movement’s footprint in Uganda continues to grow, bolstered by impactful projects in areas such as water and sanitation, maternal and child health, environmental sustainability, and education.

Kitakule pointed to landmark initiatives such as the establishment of a dialysis center in Mbarara, which has reduced the cost of treatment for many, and the upcoming annual Cancer Run slated for August, as examples of how Rotary is saving lives and promoting health equity. He also highlighted Rotary’s role in launching blood banks, constructing libraries, and distributing scholastic materials in underserved regions like Soroti.

“This year, we want to tell our story more boldly,” he said. “If people don’t know what we do, they won’t unite with us. Awareness is key.” He added that the district is rolling out a digital media campaign to showcase Rotary’s work and mobilise more support.

On the funding front, Kitakule announced that last Rotary year alone, the district implemented community projects worth nearly $4m. The current goal is to raise $1m locally and leverage partnerships to fund projects valued at up to $5m through global grants.

He stressed the importance of sustainability in all Rotary interventions, noting that some projects require long-term monitoring to evaluate their true impact.

“When we give school desks or books, we follow up to see whether children’s performance improves over the years. Impact cannot always be measured in one Rotary year,” he explained.

A significant focus this year is on recruiting new members, especially the youth. Kitakule acknowledged the misconception that Rotary is an elite club, a myth he is eager to dispel. “Rotary is for everyone willing to serve. Our Rotaractors are young professionals, and we are grooming them to become future leaders in service,” he said.

The Governor called on Ugandans to embrace the Rotary spirit of service by joining as members, supporting causes, or simply contributing to fundraising efforts. “You don’t have to be a billionaire to give back. Even a dollar can change a child’s life,” he said.

As part of efforts to strengthen regional partnerships, the district will continue working closely with Rotary clubs in Kenya and Tanzania through inter-country committees and the International Service Committee.

Kitakule closed with a call to action: “Let us bring our ideas, resources, and networks together. Let us unite for good—to create a lasting legacy for our communities.”

Young People Called to Embrace Rotary

The District Rotaract Representative (DRR), Abesiga Nahabwe, called on young people to embrace service as a pathway to leadership and impact, under this year’s rallying theme, Unite for Good.

“I represent a generation of energetic, bold young people with great ideas who believe that service is one way to lead,” Abesiga said. “But as we serve, we also grow—personally and professionally.”

He emphasized that Unite for Good is more than a slogan. “It’s about coming together with purpose. We believe isolation doesn’t yield results, but together we can create lasting change,” he noted.

Highlighting Rotaractors’ involvement in areas such as education, health, and peacebuilding, Abesiga said the goal is to build sustainable solutions, not just short-term projects. “We want to serve in ways that ensure a better tomorrow.”

He urged greater community collaboration: “We’re listening more—to communities, to our peers, to the world—so we solve real problems. But we don’t work alone. We partner with Rotarians and invite everyone to join us.”