Rotary not only for the rich

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One of the biggest misconceptions about Rotarians is that it is an organisation for rich people. But that is wrong, said Robert Kavuma, the newly installed President of the Rotary Club of Kisugu-Victoria View.

“Although there is nothing wrong with being rich, and no one should apologise for that, Rotary is not only for the rich,” Kavuma said. “What is required in Rotary is not wealth, but the will to serve above self. That willingness to help when you come across a person in need, that is all it takes.”

Kavuma further reminded guests that Rotarians are not only volunteers, but ones who pay to volunteer.

The installation, held at the Molover House in Kisugu, was done by Past District Governor Steven Mwanje, with Kavuma becoming the 10th President of the club, which was chartered in 2016. He took over from now Immediate Past President (IPP) Phoebe Kisibo.

Enid Edroma (1st right), the MTN Company Secretary, hands over a dummy cheque of sh10m which will help with the Rotary Club of Kisugu-Victoria View's project to distribute energy saving stoves to schools in Kampala and Eastern Uganda. (Photo by Kalungi Kabuye)

In his remarks, PDG Mwanje explained that becoming a President does not necessarily mean becoming a leader.

“Leadership is a privilege, not a right,” Mwanje said. “And leadership is learnt, not taught.”

Kavuma later outlined his vision for the year, which include a strong emphasis on Maternal and Child Health. He said the health and dignity of mothers and children reflect the very soul of any society, so they will not just give concern, but action.

He also spelt out the areas of focus of his administration, which are strengthening member engagement, building partnerships and adapting boldly.

In her speech, the Guest of Honour, Enid Edroma, the MTN Company Secretary and General Manager, Corporate Services, explained that they have moved away from plain CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) and now follow the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) strategy. She later donated sh10m from MTN to support the club’s project of distributing energy-saving stoves to schools in Kampala and Eastern Uganda.