Africa-Press – Uganda. The Rotary Club of Bukerere in Goma Division in Mukono Municipality has finally hosted its charter night.
A charter night is an event to mark the official founding of a new Rotary Club or to recognise the charter members of an existing club.
On Sunday, Anne Nkutu, the District Governor for Rotary District 9213 installed Augustine Kirungi as the charter president for the new Rotary Club of Bukerere at a function held at Volt Lounge along Bukerere Road in Mukono.
She also officially handed over the certificate to the new club advisor and also officially inducted its members.
“I trust that you now truly understand Rotary and understand the principles on which it was built, which include service, integrity, diversity, leadership and fellowship. I hope each and everyone of you will uphold these values and practice the principles so that you are the true Rotarians that you have become today,” Nkutu said.
“We look forward to seeing you, not only in Bukerere but everywhere because from today onwards, all the Rotary Club doors are open to you, whether here or whichever Rotary Club across the world. I hope this will be the best decision you ever made.”
The District Governor for Rotary District 9213, Ann Nkutu urged members of the new Rotary Club on practicing integrity but also to use their vocational experience and talents to serve Rotary.
She however cautioned members against using Rotary to exploit others.
“Be fair in all dealings with others and treat them with respect. Promote recognition and respect for all occupations which are useful to society. Don’t do anything that will reflect adversely on Rotary or other Rotarians. Don’t seek advantage or privilege not normally accorded to others in business or professional relationship. Even if we are Rotarians, we shouldn’t exploit each other,” Nkutu said.
The new charter president for the Rotary Club of Bukerere Augustine Kirungi said the new club currently has 33 members from different walks of life in terms of professions.
“We are happy to be chartered members of this new Rotary Club to serve the community of Bukerere. This is a peri-urban area which requires a lot of service in terms of youth empowerment, education, water and sanitation, environment and health. We are coming as Rotarians help our community improve these challenges,” Kirungi said.
He said with the new Rotary Club, the members will now put heads together to serve people better.
According to Joseph Kato Kateregga, the publicity board member for the Rotary Club of Bukerere, joining the new Rotary Club was a no-brainer.
“We have a lot of challenges in our community. Our area Goma has on several occasions been in the news, but for the wrong reasons. We have so many youths who are redundant and engage in robberies. We realised the reason is because these youths lack skills to enable them survive. This being one of the highly populated areas, it faces challenges of unemployed youths and as Rotary, we want to start by skilling them. It wouldn’t be easy for a single person to do it but when we come together as the Rotary Club of Bukerere, we can easily do it,” Kato said.
“Even if each can contribute shs100,000, we can raise an amount enough to do a project that can help the youths survive.”
Kato said having been chartered, the new Rotary Club now qualifies for international grants to support different projects like a skilling centre for youths in the area.
Mrs Moreen Kwizera Nagawa, a member of the new Rotary Club said she envisions the club to help tackle some of the challenges that the area faces.
“This area faces so many challenges, especially with youths, including early marriages and high school dropouts. We hope that as the Rotary Club of Bukerere, we shall come together to address these challenges by educating the public on what needs to be done,” Mrs Kwizera said.
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