Rotary International president Arezzo Uganda visit to boost humanitarian work

KAMPALA - Rotary International President (2025-2026) Francesco Arezzo is visiting Uganda starting today, February 20, 2026, to offer support on the humanitarian work front. 

Arezzo, accompanied by his wife Anna Mariacriscione Arezzo, will, among others, visit Rotary-supported projects in Kampala and beyond.

Rotary is a global, non-religious, and non-political service organisation of approximately 1.4 million professional and community leaders from across the world converging in over 46,000 Rotary Clubs worldwide.

Rotarians, under their primary motto is "Service Above Self,” focus on promoting peace, fighting diseases such as Polio and Malaria, providing clean water, saving mothers and children, supporting education, growing local economies and protecting the environment.

Arezzo will kick off his two-day schedule today by visiting maternal and child health project (Oxygen of Life) at Kawempe National Hospital at 10:30am, before proceeding to the Makerere University Rotary Peace Centre (12:30-1:30).

He is also expected to meet the Rotary leaders and address the media at the Speke Resort Munyonyo before presiding over the Rotary Foundation (TRF) fellowship in the evening.

Then on Saturday, he is expected to visit Nakasero Blood Bank, Grace Mega Health Camp organised by RC medical stars (NMS) in Kajjansi, meeting with Rotaractors at Lweza, visit JCRC-Bone Marrow Transplant Unit at Lubowa and conclude with membership Gala dinner at Speke Resort Muyonyo.

Arezzo, in the Rotary annual statement, has emphasised the importance of high vaccination coverage as a critical factor in achieving the total eradication of polio globally. He has called for immunising 90 to 97% of children under five years to ultimately eradicate the illness.

He has also highlighted the significance of peace as a vital element for sustainable development and growth, stating that without peace, no country can function properly.

He has urged Nigerians and other conflict-affected nations to prioritise peace, patience and community engagement as pathways to overcoming insecurity and achieving sustainable development, including public health goals such as polio eradication.

Arezzo's commitment to long-term global health initiatives across the continent is evident in his efforts to eradicate polio and promote peace and development.

About Francesco Arezzo

Arezzo is an orthodontist in private practice and owns an agricultural enterprise that produces extra virgin olive oil in Sicily.

Arezzo, a member of the Rotary Club of Ragusa, Italy, was selected by the Rotary Board of Directors to become Rotary International’s president for 2025-2026 from July last year, following the unexpected resignation of RI President-Elect Mário César Martins de Camargo on June 8, 2025.

Arezzo is a graduate of the University of Padua and a member of the Italian, European, and American orthodontics associations, as well as the Italian and European lingual orthodontics associations. He is a dentistry graduate of the University of Cagliari, where he also received a master’s in lingual orthodontics.

He has served as vice-president of the National Association of Italian Dentists for the province of Ragusa and was the founder and head for seven years of the Ragusa delegation to the National Trust for Italy.

Arezzo is also the owner of an agricultural enterprise and producer of extra virgin olive oil in the Monti Iblei region of Sicily. He has been vice-president of the administrative council of the consortium controlling and regulating quality production of oil in that region.

He owns two boutique hotel settlements there. He enjoys modern art and opera.

A Rotary member for 36 years, Arezzo has served as vice chair of the Joint Strategic Planning Committee and as RI director, chair of the 2023 Melbourne Convention Committee, learning facilitator, and district conference presidential representative, among other roles.

Arezzo's partner is Anna Maria Criscione, an entrepreneur in the tourism field. Francesco and Anna Maria are Benefactors and Major Donors to The Rotary Foundation.

Previous Rotary International Presidents' visits to Uganda

• Stephanie Urchick (2024–2025) visited for one week in January 2025 as part of her "African Magic Tour," during which she attended the Peace Symposium at Makerere University and launched the 2025 Rotary Cancer Run

•  Jennifer Jones (2022–23), visited in September 2022 during her "Imagine Impact Tour" to launch the Rotary Peace Center at Makerere University and flag off the 2022 Rotary Cancer Run

•  Shekhar Mehta (2021–2022), visited in September 2021, where he met with Makerere University management and toured the Rotary Peace Centre.

•  John Germ (2016–2017), visited in February 2017 and was hosted by the Rotary Club of Kampala South. During his visit, he inspected the Mukono hospital project, and praised Ugandan Rotarians for their contributions to polio eradication and community development

• William Boyd (2006–2007), visited in August 2006 to assess humanitarian needs and commend local Rotarians for their service

First Ugandan to be elected as RI president

Sam Owori of Uganda was elected to serve as the 2018–2019 Rotary International President, he unexpectedly passed on in July 2017 before he could take office. He is often honoured during presidential visits to the country.

These visits often highlight Uganda's significant contributions to Rotary in Africa, particularly in peacebuilding and community development. 

The Makerere University Rotary Peace Centre in Kampala is the first and currently only Rotary Peace Center on the African continent, established in 2021. 

It offers a one-year postgraduate diploma and professional development certificate in peacebuilding, conflict transformation, and development, specifically targeting African peace practitioners.

Africa is the fastest-growing region in terms of membership. 

Rotary’s signature event in Uganda is the Cancer run, usually attended by thousands of Ugandans and friends of Rotary from across the world to raise funds for a Cancer centre at Nsambya Hospital.