The Brick

The Brick 24th July 2013

Meet Rtn. ‘Picasa’

By Hannington Sebuliba
When Rtn. Charles Baganja  invited me to come to Dreams Guest House to give a talk on newspapaer production, little did I know that it was my first step to becoming a member of this great Club.

The year was 2006, and the president then was Kibirango. I happened to give a moving talk and after that talk I was Invited to joing the Rotary Club of Kajjansi. Rtn. Baganja told me that this club lacked someone of my profession. I couldn’t figure out how a broke person like me would be useful to Rotary.

All along I had the belief that Rotary was a club for the rich who had money to waste on constructing bus shelters and giving water tanks to schools.

A year later I decided to start attending the Wednesday fellowships at Dreams Guest House. Rtn. Joyce Magala requested me to assist her on the Brick bulletin. By then it was so small that it used to be like a brochure. I later on ventured into producing it on 4 pages of A5. It started as a black and white bulletin, but later on we turned to colour.

For the three years I have been in Rotary, I have been able to capture most of the events through the lens of the camera. It is not always easy to take those moments in history because all the time you have to find a vantage point to take that photo that will  tell a story for generations to come.

I have taken a number of shots every time we visited our pojects and even during fellowships. These photos have not remained on my computer but I have shared them online, on ou picasa web album, our blog and even in our weekly bulletin the Brick.

I focus more on capturing moments and the little details that might otherwise go unnoticed. I am more concerned with making images that tell the story of the  event.

When I was invited to join Rotary, I was told that my services would be much in needed in the club. I first wondered how this would benefit the Club since I’m no longer an active journalist  but I sat down and thought about my contribution to the club. I finally discovered that I would be of help in designing the brick bulletin and also taking photos of the club events.

In my first year, I was shocked to be named the Rotarian of the Year 2010/11 because of the works I had done for promoting our club on picasa, web blog, Youtube and even the Brick Bulletin.

My job was to ensure that every bulletin that came out had a photo that was an action photo and very relevant to the stories in that bulletin.

It was at this time that I decided to open a picasa web album for the Rotary Club of Kajjansi, because our achives were lacking very important pictures. This is how I got the name picasa.

I worked with all my heart, serving above self and managed to take the club beyond Kajjansi on the worldwide web.
In the Rotary year 2010/11, I was awarded the Rotarian of the year award by Presido John Mary Luberenga.

I have been able to take a number of photos for the club service projects and posted them on the internet. The  only unfortunate bit is that I am in very few pictures of the club activities.

PAG Bob Waggwa Nsibirwa Inducts Rtn. Hannington

I can proudly say that during my tenure of office as Bulletin officer and as Public Relations Director, I have been able to create a web blog for the club, posted a number of youtube videos on the net, written articles and taken thousands of photos for the club activities. I have also been invited to a number of Rotary Clubs to give  a talk simply because of the visibility of the Rotary Club of Kajjansi. Lastly I was able to re-brand the Rotary Club of Kajjansi by re-designing the club logo to give it  a new look.

 I don’t think I would manage all these on my own but due to the team spirit and encouragement given to me by the rest of the members. I want to thank PP Karoli for fishing me, my mentor Rtn. Rev. Grace Ssentongo, past presidents, and most of all PP Peace Taremwa who offered to pay for my District and International fees for this past year. May the Almighty reward you so much.

To the rest of the members I thank you for the encouragement.

JJONGOZA RCC ELECTIONS AND  HANDOVER

By PAG Charles Kulibanza Byanyima

The Jjongoza RCC was Chartered in 2008.The main architect behind its formation was Rtn Dr  Rev  Fr Aloysius  Lwanga Bukenya. The maiden and first Chairperson of the RCC was Mrs Specioza Lusiba popularly known as “SENGA”.

Since that time other two persons have held the office of Chair Person namely Mr James Mulindwa and Mrs Prossy Bbale.The first Coordinator of the RCC was Rtn Fr Aloysius Bukenya,who was subsequently succeeded by Rtn  Charles Kulibanza Byanyima who still plays that role to this date.

Every year, just like the  norms and ideals of Rotary , the RCC is expected to change leadership and its view of this requirement that three Rotarians travelled on 10th July 2013 to Jjongoza to supervise the elections.The three Rotarians are: Rtn Ismael Mukasa-Director Projects (who had to break his fast in order to drive the team to Jjongoza),Rtn AG Charles Karoli Baganja(Past RCC Chair –Uganda) and Rtn PAG DT Charles Kulibabnza Byanyima, the Coordinator and Team Leader.

The team joined Rtn Dr Fr Aloysuis Lwanga Bukenya from RC Karen D9212, who had been in Jjongoza some days earlier  to prepare the Community and help them reconcile socially for the betterment of the RCC.

The team, on arrival, was treated to the  ever enchanting Jjongoza hospitality of music ,dance and drama despite the hot and dusty day.

After observing the normal Rotary protocols ( which included the singing of “Ekitiibwa Kya’Buganda” and the best singer being recognized as PAG Charles!) the team explained to the RCC Members ,the purpose of the visit, which was the holding of elections and the hand over of offices.

The RCC Members were taken through the Guidelines of RCC and the following Broad topics were covered:
i. Purpose and Goals
ii. Sponsorship
iii. Membership
iv. Meetings
v. Leadership
vi. Activities and Projects
vii. Committees
viii. Leadership
ix. Fees and Dues

Prior to holding the elections the following were agreed on by all the members:
- To have a secret ballot for all positions.
- Have a maximum of 3 Nominations for each post
-Candidates briefly talk about themselves
-Votes be counted ,tallied and the Winner be instantly declared
-The Candidate with the simple majority of the cast votes would be declared winner
-Winner congratulates the Losers
Prior to the Election Exercise, all voting members were verified and ascertained to be eligible to vote. ie they were all good members in good standing. The total voters were 44.
The elections were conducted in a free , fair and level environment and the following were elected:
1. Chairperson : Kalyango Agnes Namwanga
2. Vice Chairperson:Bagonza Aloysius
3. Secretary: Lwanga Felix
4. Treasurer : Namagembe Resty
5. Projects : Bbale Joseph
6. Membership : Nayiga Polly Bbale
7. Publicity: Kivumbi Fred
The Coordinator will be elected from among the above Executive Committee when they hold the first  meeting.

The following Committees were also constituted:
1. Finance Committee to be headed by the Treasurer, Namagembe Resty
2. Projects Committee to be headed by Joseph Bbale
3. Membership Committee to be headed by Nayiga Polly Bbale
4. Publicity Committee to be headed by Kivumbi Fred.

The outgoing Chairperson,Nayiga Polly Bbale read her handover speech and presented to team hard copies for the Club files. She highlighted the need for respect among each other, respect of authority and making  friends beyong Jjongoza.She,among others, pointed out that during   her tenure of office  the membership had increased by 20 members. The handover of documents/files  between the Old and New Executive  will take place at the first meeting of the New Executive.

The  New Executive were given a pep  talk on Leadership and how they are expected to lead their fellow members. The Charter Certificate of the RCC was formally handover to the New Chairperson.
On the return journey the team used the time to reflect on  the visit and noted the following:
-RCC needs our presence  as stipulated in the RCC/RI Guide lines that is at least once a month
-Supervision to ensure that the RCC operates as is expected is important
-Cliquism though minimized can still crop back
-As per RCC Guide Lines,Fr Bukenya needs to formally request the RC Kajjansi to own and supervise the Springs of Peace Project that is worth USD 20,000
-The hospitality exhibited by the RCC could be of financial strain  in the future.

The team retuned back to base at Dreams Guest House to catch the  second half of an interesting fellowship.They were adequately recognized and rewared with  a drink by the President

INSTALLATION OF THE 11TH PRESIDENT RTN CHARLES MAGALA

It all started before we went to the DCA in Mombasa when then, PE Charles approached me and requested that I chair his Installation. I knew I wasn’t the best choice for the assignment but again thought that if I didn’t do it , I would have let down myself and Rotary as well because our calling is to serve.

I then asked him if he had a venue in mind, to which he suggested NK Gardens, one as a way of supporting our own CP Joseph and also trying to lure him back.

I had to come up with committee members, request them to serve with me and also draw a budget which was later presented to the Club for approval. The challenge then was on financing the budget.

We suggested that we sell cards at 50,000/=@ but later reduced it to 40,000/=. This would finance 80% of our budget. The balance would then be financed by sales of magazines, and donations. From the beginning, all proceeds from the Adverts in the magazine were to be dedicated to projects and rightfully so, they did.

The other challenge was about articles for the Magazine and designing it. It’s a blessing that we have Hannington among the numbers, through thick and thin we got the Adverts, Articles and magazine designed.

Then came the issue of proceeds from the sale of cards to finance the budget. Members, really dragged on (which was understandable but we had a duty to do), with all the strategies that were used, we got the monies and with two days to D-day, we were in a confortable zone on the budget performance.

My special appreciation goes to all club members who donated both in kind (Julies’ Bushera) and cash, committee members who stuck to their duty stations and assignments, the M.C.s’, our guests, all the suppliers who performed beyond the monies paid to them and finally the President who gave me a chance to lead the rest in this function.

My day was crowned by becoming PHF and also RC Kajjansi allowing me to be the Rotarian of the year.
I will always commit to serve.

Installation Chair,
Rtn, PHF,Ismael Mukasa.

DG Katongole donates US $1000 for St. Kizito Katwe Bweya Primary School

By Hannington Sebuliba

He spent five minutes staring at the photos of the dilapidated buildings of St. Kizito Primary School Katwe Bweya and every on wondered what was going on in his mind.
On closer look at the Rotary District 9211 Governor Emmanuel Katongole’s eyes,  you could see some tears. This was due to the fact that the went through such similar schools. He revealed to us that back in the 1960s when he was still in primary school in Mityana District, two classes would share the same classroom,  as it now happens at this particular school.

President Charles Magala shows DG Emmanuel the building they are proposing to construct at St. Kizito Bweya

On of the school teachers, told the Governor that it was such a very trying moment to teach two classes in one classroom. “After teaching Primary one, I tell them to sleep and not to listen to what I am teaching those in Primary two” she narrated with agony in her voice.

This prompted the Governor to recall his childhood school. He wondered how such a school, 8 miles from Uganda’s capital city and 14 miles from Entebbe International Airport can be in such a situation.

In his own words, he had this to say

“I was so inspired to meet a great lady this afternoon, a very humble lady, looks a little bit a senior citzen, but proberbly not of her age,  but because of things she does, she looks after 66 children who study in what I can call a roofshed classroom.  In less than 30 miles from the capital city of Uganda.

DG Emmanuele Katongole  with the school administrators standing on extreme ight is AG Peter Kimbowa and next to the Governor is President Charles Magala.

66 children study in a roof tin shed every class shares a classroom with another. When she is teaching P1, she tells P2 to keep quiet and shut their ears. When time comes for her to teach P2, she tells P1 to sleep in the same class and it happens at the midst of our neighbourhood. St. Kizito Primary School at Bweya looks so pathetic but  I was empowered and inspired my fellow Rotarians when this club took a deliberate decision to say that this year, when Emmanuel Katongole is our District Governor, we are going to build a classroom block to that school.

With the Board members

As Governor, I get so many of these commitments and was advised not to get involved but I should inspire you to go out and do what you are supposed to do. But this personally touched me  because I went through a similar situation. I had my education through a similar school where they would tell us when it was about 10:00am.  We  would do a mat from banana fibres (ekirago) on which they had to tell us to sleep when we didn’t want to sleep so that the next class could be attended to. I went through such a school but today I am your District Governor. That school should not be the way it is my fellow Rotarians. It should not be. We should change it and I will contribute $1000. We should change it because it doesn’t have to remain that way.
I don’t want to command you, but I request you to make sure that whatever it takes that this school is roofed this Rotary year.

DG Hands over PHF certification to Rtn. Dr. Johnson Byabashaija

  It is a human right for children to have a  good education and to grow into a responsible citizen. They should be given immunization, they should be given clean water and education.  This man speaking to you who hid himself in the jungle for three nights not to be counted, if he had not jumped that huddle of  Bulera Primary School to Namilyango. When I saw that school, I remembered Bulera Primary School and I said that I should put some money into changing that school for better. I will contribute US$1000 towards the construction of the classroom block.

Luwombo time

 If I hadn’t jumped that huddle, I would be dead, my grey hair would have turned into something very grey and a very big beared, I would have nvunza, have about 25 children, I would be with women that I fight with every day and would be still drinking mwenge bigere. When I went to Namilyango college all that changed. When I started putting on shoes, I’ve never been without shoes. Why? It is because of Education. Many of you might not say it but you are not different from me. These kids must get better education. It is you and me to provide for them.”

DG Emmanuel Katongole Launches the new Club Logo Designed by Rtn Hannington Sebuliba