New Rotary Club president pledges to fight poverty

By Vision Reporter

THE Rotary Club of Kampala North has installed Rotarian Eric Byenkya PHF as its 28th President to lead the club for the Rotary Year 2015-2016 effective 1st July 2015. 

Rtn. Byenkya takes the mantle from Rtn. Jayne Frances Nakato who has served in the same capacity for the Rotary Year 2014-2015.

The installation took place at a colorful event held at the Pearl Restaurant Nommo Gallery in Nakasero on 25th May 2015. The event was presided over as Guest of Honor by Mrs. Thereza Mbire. Rtn.

Byenkya will lead the club under the 2015-2016 Rotary Theme “Be a Gift to the World”, an inspirational flagship theme aimed at energizing Rotarians worldwide to give unconditionally of their time, expertise and resources to make the world a better place.

In his inaugural speech, Rtn, Bwenkya pledged to start a poor youth project known as Vijana Poor project aimed at helping the you people step out of poverty.

Bwenky further pledged to rally Rotary Club members of Kampala North to continue with mentorship and sponsorship as ways of helping members of the community to excel.

“We are going to continue to serve the Rotary Foundation by stretching our yearly target beyond US $ 30,000. With this year’s theme being “Be a gift to the world”, I urge all Rotarians to endeavor to transform the lives of the underprivileged”, he added.

Speaking after bestowing the instruments of power to Bwenkya, Mrs. Mbire hailed Rotary Clubs for their humanitarian activities which she said are lighting the world with good deeds aimed at helping other excel.

She encouraged Ugandans to emulate the work of Rotarians in their day to day lives to make the country a better place for all to live in.

The Rotary Club of Kampala North is a member club of Rotary International chartered on August 06, 1988. 

The Club is one of the leading Rotary Clubs in Rotary District 9211, having been involved in a number of successful projects targeting the neediest communities in Uganda and having executed projects portfolio worth over USD 3 Million covering Health, Humanity, Hunger and other Rotary focus areas.

Most recently, the Rotary Club of Kampala North has partnered with the Rotary Foundation to sponsor lifesaving heart surgeries worth over USD 71,000 for over 20 children at Mulago Hospital in partnership with the Uganda Heart Institute, partnered with the NSSF, Makerere College of Health Sciences & other partners to provide free dental services the dental camps held in the last 3 years, and completed an ‘Adopt a Village Project’ worth over USD 114,000 to provide intervention in Water and Sanitation, Basic Education and Literacy, Disease Prevention and Treatment, Maternal and Child Health, Economic and Community Development in Nkondo Village in Buyende District. 

In 2005, the Rotary Club of Kampala North in partnership with other international Rotary Clubs and the Rotary Foundation donated dental equipment worth over USD 1M to the then Mulago Dental School.

Rotary International is a volunteer Organization made up of over 1.2 million business and professional leaders in 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries worldwide, who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world.  Rotary is involved in a number of humanitarian activities, health being one of the key interventions supported.

Rotarians are neighbors, friends, and community leaders who come together to create positive, lasting change in their communities and around the world.

Their differing occupations, cultures, and countries give them a unique perspective and their shared passion for service helps us accomplish the remarkable.