Rotary International's Owori receives heroic welcome

PIC:  Samuel Owori being welcomed by Rotarians at Entebbe International Airport .Photos/ Abou Kisige

Rotary International elect president, Sam Owori, returned home to a massive welcome by fellow Rotarians at Entebbe International Airport.

Owori was on Tuesday nominated to head Rotary International as president for year 2018-2019.

 
Owori, a professional banker becomes the first past district governor of the Rotary Club 9200 and the second African to be nominated to Rotary International, a body responsible for the administration, policy formulation and financial control of Rotary clubs worldwide.

Since starting out as a Rotary President in 1987, Owori has never looked back and has had a very active Rotary career, holding a variety of offices including that of district governor for Rotary in Uganda.

His nomination took the country by storm. There was renewed evidence of this as hundreds of Rotarians gathered at Entebbe International Airport Thursday to welcome him back home.

 
The mood at the airport oozed excitement as Rotarians scrambled for a rare opportunity to hug and shake the president's hands.

"Rotary is going to become a household name everywhere in the world. There is a lot of work to do, I am going to push other countries that are just coming up so that we grow membership. Rotary must grow if we are going to make an impact," said Owori.

He called upon fellow Rotarians to support one another in order to give them confidence.

 
Rotarians from different clubs had to be controlled by the VIP security to clear way for other dignitaries.

His wife Norah Owori was also there to welcome him from Chicago.

"When he gets to do something, he does it with all his heart. It is because of his commitment and the way he treats others that he was able to win," said Mrs. Owori.

Speaking to New Vision, Nelson Kawalya, Buganda Kingdom speaker described Owori as a nice, cool, and intelligent and down-to-earth man who has done a lot for Rotary.

"When he became the district Governor, we had only three clubs in Kampala and 10 clubs in Uganda, right now Kampala alone boasts of more than 40 clubs and Uganda has close to 85 clubs. He has done a lot for Rotary," he said.