Our Guest of Honour Mr. Ssemogerere Robert, our Chief Guest PDG Kenneth W. Mugisha, PDGs, AGs, District Officials, Incoming President Aloysius Mayanja, Board Members, Fellow Rotarians, Rotaractors, Interactors and all of you our distinguished guests, I am thrilled and humbled to see all of you here. Thank you for sacrificing your precious time to come bear witness to the first change of leadership of our coveted Rotary Club of Bunga.
As a club, we shall always treasure our humble beginnings dating way back in the year 2017, when PP Stephen Mubiru Kalenge invited me for a drink (as I had assumed) where he introduced the idea they had mooted with PDG Emmanuel Katongole of starting the Club. Since that meeting, a lot has happened and has been shared from different perspectives by the different players who have journeyed with us to date.
We appreciate all of you our sponsors RC Muyenga, PAGs, Special Governor’s Representative PP Joseph Kalali Nkuusa, all our mentors, trainers and well-wishers, for the continued support and encouragement.
But just like all start-ups, we have had our fair share of trials and tribulations, which I’m glad to report we have largely overcome. It is for that reason we are here today, to celebrate our first year of existence marked by the modest contribution we have been able to make so far to the greater aspirations of Rotary as a global organization.
Allow me to thank all members of RC Bunga for the spirited struggle you have put up, that has seen us survive the infancy mortality syndrome. We look forward to improved growth that will see us mature into a great club in line with our set club goals, which are guided in turn by our District and Rotary International set objectives.
Our first year has seen all directorates register some achievements as well as challenges as highlighted below:
Club Administration:
The Club strategic plan has been drafted and discussed with members awaiting final approval, our appreciation to AG Naka for her support in the process.
The Club has continued to register improved accountability through better and proper financial management and recording of all transactions.
Club attendance register is in place.
The buddy groups have improved members’ active participation in the fellowships. We have to laud Mbuzi and Kamyu groups for having been exemplary.
We are thankful to various guest speakers who have contributed tremendously to members’ appreciation of Rotary and the chosen theme of different months.
Members are slowly embracing makeups and ambassadorials.
Membership and Family:
We have retained almost all of our Charter members losing only two. The two have relocated and we are set to induct 2 new members tonight who shall bring our number to 46 strong.
Members’ dues for the previous Rotary year were paid.
Whereas some club leaders have attended COTS and PETS training, our members should be encouraged to embrace training available through various courses on offer as well as other tools and seminars.
Emphasis to be put on recruiting new members and involving our family members in Club activities.
Members have bonded well outside fellowship by show of solidarity during good and bad times.
Rotary Foundation:
Members’ contributions to Polio are recorded against their ledgers at every fellowship.
Members’ contribution to the Rotary Foundation is still low.
Service Projects:
- Gaba Support The Disabled; looking after children challenged both mentally and physically is our signature project and work is in progress on the project proposal for further development and support. A collection is made at every fellowship to their cause.
- Mission Green Project at Nakyessanja continues to flourish with more trees being planted whenever seedlings are sourced. There has been follow up checks on this and other sites where trees have previously been planted namely, St Mbaaga Major Secondary, St Dennis SSS and St. John PTC Gaba.
- We have participated in 2 camps in partnership with our Mother Club and other Baby Clubs code named LN-4 Project and distributed prosthetic limbs to amputees. The project is set to grow and expand to other areas in the country.
- We have started on the process of forming a Rotaract Club and recruitment has started with the pioneer members already active in our fellowships.
Publicity:
We have adhered to the correct Rotary branding.
- Our members visit other Clubs thus increasing our visibility.
- We have attended Joint Fellowships with other Tuesday Clubs.
- Members are encouraged to enhance the use of social media.
- A newsletter for the Club is set to start publication.
- A website for the club rotaryclubofbunga.org has been set up
International Services
The Club has a member from the Republic of Kenya.
We have received visitors from other countries.
The Club has been represented at the last 3 District Conferences.
The above brief account of our performance during the first year inspires us to work and achieve even more in the years ahead.
Appreciation:
As a Club, we are thankful to the Inspirational D G Shamila and the District team ably represented by PAG Naka, the Country Officials, PDG Emmanuel and Ken, PP Stephen and Gabriel and the entire Rotary family at R C Muyenga. You all worked so hard, motivated us, mentored us to what we are today. Thank you. We are glad to always count on you for further guidance and support.
To all Rotarians, Rotaractors and Interactors who have always graced our fellowships and those we have interacted with on our makeups or met elsewhere thank you for making us feel special and welcome.
To the Board I was privileged to serve with, we have learnt a lot together and supported each other through the process, thank you for your dedication.
To the Rotarians and aspiring of RC Bunga, we are grateful for your efforts and team spirit that has seen us survive the first year and I remain hopeful you will continue to exhibit the same to our new leaders.
Finally to our Rotary Connect President Aloysius, congratulations on this latest addition to the trail of leadership roles in as many such organisations you have served. Our choosing you as our leader was premised on our trust in your abilities to steer this Club to greater heights. I therefore wish to assure you of my personal commitment to serve under your leadership to the best of my ability.
We wish you and the new Board Members well and pray for an eventful 2019-2020 year as Rotary Connects the World.
God Bless R C Bunga and may Rotary grow ever stronger.
Makumbi George W
CP Rotary Club of Bunga.
