From refugee to royalty: Ugandan-born Lakhani inspires at Canada Rotary convention

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A deeply personal and powerful story of resilience captivated more than 16,000 Rotarians from around the world at the Rotary International Convention held at Calgary’s Stampede Park, a venue globally famed for hosting the world’s largest outdoor show each July.

Uganda-born Salma Lakhani, now Alberta Lieutenant governor, shared her extraordinary journey from exile to becoming the Canadian province’s 19th vice-regal representative.

Standing; The Buganda Kingdom finance minister, Wagwa Nsibirwa (3rd left), former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda, Louis Kasekende (4th left), Past District Governor (PDG) Mike Sebalu (4th right) and other Rotarians who attended the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Canada.

“In 1972, I became a stateless person. My home country, Uganda, had expelled its entire Asian minority population,” Lakhani, 74, said.

“I was expelled with my family.”

Speaking at the opening plenary, she described the uncertain journey that brought her and her husband to Canada as newlyweds. They landed in Edmonton around midnight and drove into darkness, finally stopping at a truck-stop motel.

“I had a few tears that night. I told my husband, ‘I don’t know if we’ve come to the right place.'

But that uncertain beginning blossomed into a lifetime of service, learning, and leadership.

“Where else, if not Canada, would you find such an opportunity?” she said, reflecting on a life that has included receiving global leaders like the G7 and King Charles III.

Now a Canadian citizen, Lakhani is the country’s first Muslim Lieutenant Governor, and the first person of South Asian descent and African birth to serve in the role.

Past District Governor (PDG) Mike Sebalu (left) and other Rotarians who attended the 2025 Rotary International Convention in Canada.

“They stripped us of everything material when we left Uganda, but they couldn’t take away what was in our heads,” she said, urging the youth never to give up on education. “It is something that stays with you forever.”

Her address underlined one of Rotary’s core pillars: The promotion of basic education and literacy, particularly in underserved communities. It was a moment that tied personal testimony with the mission of Rotary International, a global humanitarian organisation with over 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs worldwide.

Rotary’s areas of focus include disease prevention, clean water and sanitation, maternal and child health, peacebuilding, and education.

The 2025 Calgary convention also featured inspiring messages from other global figures, including World Health Organisation Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and American actress and activist Geena Davis.

Uganda, represented by over 200 Rotarians from Districts 9213 and 9214, made a visible and impactful presence.

Dressed in uniform shirts promoting the upcoming Uganda Rotary Cancer Run, the delegates highlighted the country’s Rotary-led health campaigns.

Past District Governor Ken Mugisha and health ministry’s Jimmy Opigo delivered a compelling presentation on Uganda’s continuing fight against malaria, earning commendation from global health stakeholders.

Rtn Ann Nkutu led the delegation from D9213, while D9124 was led by governor Christine Kyeyune Kawooya and Governor Nominee Daniel Mukasa Ddamulira.

Other delegates included PDG Mike Sebalu, former minister of Ethics Tim Lwanga, Kabaka’s finance minister Wagwa Nsibirwa and Emmanuel Katongole, Rotary International Director Zone 22(Africa).

The next Rotary International Convention will be held in June 2026 in Taipei, Taiwan — another opportunity for Rotarians to come together under the theme of service above self, and to continue transforming lives across the globe.