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RIPE Sam Owori given an official burial by the state
It was a befitting send off for Rotary International President Elect Sam Frobisher Owori.
The Government of the Republic of Uganda had granted him an official burial appreciating him for his humanitarian services to the country and the world at large.
A number of funeral services took place in Uganda in all the clubs until the body was brought back to Uganda on Tuesday, July 25, 2017.
As soon as the body arrived, it was taken to the Parliamentary buildings and lay in state. The Uganda Police Brass Band played religious music as the deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Jacob Oulanyah and other members of Parliament paid their respects to the man whose life for the last 40 years was nothing but Rotary.
The public that was mainly composed of Rotarians and family members got a chance to write in the condolence book and later on viewed the body of the late Sam Owori.
Later that afternoon, the body was ushered into the Parliamentary Chambers for a special sitting to honour the late Sam Owori. A motion was tabled by the The Prime Minister Rt Hon Ruhakana Rugunda moved the motion to honour the late Sam Owori. Earlier the Deputy Speaker Rt Hon Jacob Oulanyah laid a wreath on the casket containing the remains of late Sam Owori
Hon. Katuntu said “As Ugandans, we should emulate people like the late Sam Owori”. and went on to say “These are people who have served this country but they are taking off time to serve the community”
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| Norah Owori eulogises her husband at Namirembe Cathedral |
Hon. Opendi Sarah said He not only served Uganda but made tremendous contributions to many people around the world.
Hon. Baryayanga said “Because of the work the late Sam Owori carried out, I feel greatly that I should join Rotary”
On Wednesday, Rotarians held an interfaith funeral service for Sam Frobisher Owori at Lugogo Indoor Stadium.
Speaker after speaker praised Sam Owori for his love and passion for service.
The Widow Rtn. Norah Owori eulogising her husband Sam Owori at Lugogo Indoor Stadium during the Interfaith celebration service.
“I don’t know what to say. You’ve really shown us that you loved Sam and you love us. I have not come here to make a speech but I wanted to say thank you all for loving Sam.
“The only thing I wanted to tell you is that Sam is gone but Rotary Must move on. Some of you are saying that now that Sam is dead, we shall not go to Toronto. You must go to Toronto. I must go to Toronto. Let’s increase on our numbers in Africa so that we have two Directors sitting on a Board. The light of Rotary must shine even more after Sam has long gone. Thank you very much for coming those who travelled from far and near.” she said.
District Governor Ken DG Ken Mugisha Wycliff said that Rotarians had come from far and near to celebrate “Our own ‘Nelson Mandela’ of Rotary by the name of Sam Owori” |
| DG Ken Mugisha at Namirembe |
He pledged to continue doing Sam Owori’s vision and ensure that it is achieved. “We are going to work together to achieve Sam’s dream of seeing Africa become a zone and having more and more rotarians” he said.
DG Ken Mugisha Wycliff thanked the Government of Uganda for according Sam Owori an official send off. “The financial contribution given to us by government for Sam’s funeral has never been given even to its officials” he said amidst applause from the mourners.
He called upon rotarians the world over to know that the journey for Sam Owor’s vision had just begun and called upon them to walk together to achieve that vision. “Let’s celebrate his vision through Action” he concluded.
The official funeral service was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral Namirembe led by the Diocesan Bishop Wilberforce Kityo Luwalira assisted by Rt. Rev. Hannington Mutebi, the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese of Kampala.
On Saturday the body of Sam Owori was laid to rest at his ancestral burial grounds in Kidera Tororo in Eastern Uganda.
The Bishop of Bukedi Diocese led the service that was attended by a number of Rotary Leaders both local and International including Past RI President Rajendra K. Saboo , Past RI President K.R. Ravindran, RI Director-elect Olayinka “Yinka” Babalola and RI Vice President Deen Rohrs.
RI President’s Message
Dear Fellow Rotarians,
When someone asks you, “What is Rotary?” what do you say? I think we have all had the experience of being asked that deceptively simple question and finding ourselves suddenly at a loss for words. Even the most articulate among us have a hard time capturing the essence of our organization in just a few sentences.
As an organization, Rotary has always had a difficult time conveying the scope of our work; not just what we do, but how we do it, and the value of what we contribute to the world.
As an accountant, I like numbers. They work in every language, and often they communicate complex information much effectively than words. That is why, in this Rotary year, I am asking each club to provide Rotary headquarters with two numbers; the amount of money, both in cash and in kind, spent on humanitarian service; and the number of hours of work performed in Rotary’s name. If we want these numbers to be useful, they have to be accurate. That means beginning now to accurately track the hours and the money that our clubs spend on their service.
The simplest way for clubs to provide
this information at the end of the year will be by entering it every month on Rotary Club Central—a tool that has been completely rebuilt and relaunched to be significantly more useful, and user-friendly, than it has been in the past. If for some reason (for example limited internet access) your club is not able to connect to Rotary Club Central, please be in touch with your district governor, who will ensure that your information can be submitted through other means.
I cannot emphasize strongly enough that the goal of this ffort is not getting the largest and most impressive numbers. There is not going to be any competition, recognition, or public use whatsoever of the numbers reported by any individual club.
The goal is accurate and reliable numbers that we can present confidently in our public image work, in our membership materials, and to our partners—numbers backed by specific data, on the club level, that answer not only the question, “What is Rotary?” but the question, “What does Rotary do?”
I strongly believe that with numbers, we will be better able to demonstrate the value of Rotary: Making a Difference which in time will enable us make more of a difference, for more people, in more ways, than ever.
District Governor’s August Message
My Family of Rotary:
It was with profound sadness that we lost our Rotary International President Elect Sam Frobisher Owori.
Sam passed on unexpectedly of post-surgery complications in a USA hospital. This was indeed a painful blow and tragic loss for the family, Rotary Fraternity and Friends. Thank you my family of Rotary for the honor you gave to our beloved Sam F. Owori. We shall all remember that Sam was the epitome of Rotary and his exemplary service got him elected to the highest office in Rotary, making him the second African to hold this position.
I was privy to some of the great plans that he was preparing for his year of service 2018-2019 but sadly he has gone before executing them. However, while his sudden departure has had a paralyzing effect, we are thankful that we shared some of his 40 years of Rotary service. Good men must pass on but death cannot kill their good names. The only way we can honor Sam is to emulate the values and ideals that he held dearly. Sam’s loss brought out so many people who committed themselves to join Rotary. It is our role to follow them up and recruit them during this month of membership. My thoughts and prayers are with Norah, the Owori family, members of Rotary Club of Kampala where Sam was a member as well as all members of the Rotary fraternity in District D9211, Africa
and the World over. We will miss Sam dearly.
The first month of our green Rotary year is done. Thank you for having made a difference in your respective communities. In the last month I visited over 20 clubs and also interacted with the Rotaractors and Interactors. I made a decision to continue with Club Visits at the time of Sam F. Owori’s death to honor him. Sam would have wanted us to continue the good job he did in the 40 years of dedicated service to the good causes of Rotary.
One month into our Rotary year and we are in August designated for Membership Recruitment and Club Development. As
District Governor one of my roles is to encourage clubs increase membership throughout our district. I do not believe
in growth for the sake of growth but as a part of a strategic plan to do more in our communities and in our world. I am asked by Rotarians on how we can find and keep members in our clubs.
It seems that the weekly meeting is becoming a hurdle to members. What I want to emphasize is that we are living in
the “now” generation where we all want to leave our options open and don’t want to commit to attending a meeting every week. Though there is some truth to this, most people just want to know there is value in the way they spend their time.
It is important that our meetings are fun, informative and meaningful. This is not just the responsibility of the Club President but all Rotarians in the club. We need great programs and fun events.
I believe that we need to take away the excuses not to join Rotary. One great example of this is allowing small children to attend your meetings weekly.
Young parents may not be able to afford child care so they can attend meetings. If you make it so that childcare is available during the meeting or give these kids something to do during that hour you might see a big increase in the younger members.
Use Facebook and other social media to advertise programs and special events.
Not only do you remind your members of the meeting but some of the folks that normally would skip a meeting might see an interesting program coming up and stop in.
The bottom line is that we can make even more amazing things happen with more members! We need to constantly be asking our friends, neighbors, co-workers and perfect strangers to join with us in our attempt to make the world a much better place.
So as you go through this month ask those you know well or barely know if they would like to hang out with you for an hour, letting them know that joining us and our awesome organization will be the best decision they will ever make! Recruit many members as possible to have strong clubs in order to deliver services to the community.
I promise to give you all the necessary help you need - let us bring back our environment by planting trees massively to embrace Mission Green.
Fellow Rotarians, we have to go to Toronto.
Let us support Norah’s call for all of us to be in Toronto to celebrate Sam’s life.
So go forth, find great new members and invite them to be a part of our organization.
Prof Charles Olweny talks about the man he invited to Rotary during a service held at Sam Owori’s home in Munyonyo.
I am on record saying that no big day ends without rain. This morning we had a wonderful ceremony in Lugogo and it rained heavily in the afternoon. This is a big day because the government if Uganda has given him a befitting funeral the first if its kind in Uganda for a non politician.
He thanked Bishop Hannington Mutebi for a dignified service. He thanked rotary international for creating a fund in memory of Sam Owori. Death rarely acts in our favour. Ones trouble in Africa is everyone’s trouble. African culture is characterized by sharing, celebration and happiness. Thanks for coming to share our sorrow.
What shall we remember Sam Owori for?
1. His humility and simplicity
2. His dignity and devotion to duty
3. His innovation and entrepreneurial duty
4. His family attachment and his love for the church
His shoes are so big for us to fit in
He had a swelling on his leg. He had a presurgical check and was found fit to go for surgery.
Sam has fought a good fight and resting in a good place where there are no mosquitoes.
Prof. Olweny and Sam Owori went to the same primary school same secondary school, and shared the same hall at the University.
The MC of the day PDG Emmanuel Katongole took a chance to invite Bishop Mutebi to join Rotary club of Kampala and replace Sam Owori.
The co-MCs included P DG Bob Nsibirwa and Sam Owori’s relative a one Geresom.
Earlier Bishop Hannington Mutebi, the Assistant Bishop of Kampala led a celebration service at the home of the departed RI leader.
In his homily, Bishop Mutebi said that Sam Owori fulfilled God’s purpose in his own generation. He went on to say that Sam served humanity basing on the six areas of focus.
He gave a testimony of how St. Stephen’s Church Kisugu started a project in Kanyogoga slum of paying school fees for the slum dwellers. He said that Sam Owori supported that project so much in that some of the children have now been able to study up to HSC.
One of Sam Owori’s brother revealed that in their family they were born 7 boys and 7 girls from same mum and same dad. He said that Sam has been a very humble person in their family and that when everyone ran to exile during Amin’s regime, he stayed behind and nothing happened to him.
He revealed that Sam was a great athlete who got a number of trophies in 100metre races during his school days.
Prof. Olweny invited Sam Owori to Rotary
Prof Charles Olweny talks about the man he invited to Rotary during a service held at Sam Owori’s home in Munyonyo.
I am on record saying that no big day ends without rain. This morning we had a wonderful ceremony in Lugogo and it rained heavily in the afternoon. This is a big day because the government if Uganda has given him a befitting funeral the first if its kind in Uganda for a non politician.
He thanked Bishop Hannington Mutebi for a dignified service. He thanked rotary international for creating a fund in memory of Sam Owori. Death rarely acts in our favour. Ones trouble in Africa is everyone’s trouble. African culture is characterized by sharing, celebration and happiness. Thanks for coming to share our sorrow.
What shall we remember Sam Owori for?
1. His humility and simplicity
2. His dignity and devotion to duty
3. His innovation and entrepreneurial duty
4. His family attachment and his love for the church
His shoes are so big for us to fit in
He had a swelling on his leg. He had a presurgical check and was found fit to go for surgery.
Sam has fought a good fight and resting in a good place where there are no mosquitoes.
Prof. Olweny and Sam Owori went to the same primary school same secondary school, and shared the same hall at the University.
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| Prof Olweny |
The MC of the day PDG Emmanuel Katongole took a chance to invite Bishop Mutebi to join Rotary club of Kampala and replace Sam Owori.
The co-MCs included P DG Bob Nsibirwa and Sam Owori’s relative a one Geresom.
Earlier Bishop Hannington Mutebi, the Assistant Bishop of Kampala led a celebration service at the home of the departed RI leader.
In his homily, Bishop Mutebi said that Sam Owori fulfilled God’s purpose in his own generation. He went on to say that Sam served humanity basing on the six areas of focus.
He gave a testimony of how St. Stephen’s Church Kisugu started a project in Kanyogoga slum of paying school fees for the slum dwellers. He said that Sam Owori supported that project so much in that some of the children have now been able to study up to HSC.
One of Sam Owori’s brother revealed that in their family they were born 7 boys and 7 girls from same mum and same dad. He said that Sam has been a very humble person in their family and that when everyone ran to exile during Amin’s regime, he stayed behind and nothing happened to him.
He revealed that Sam was a great athlete who got a number of trophies in 100metre races during his school days.
Mission Green
By Rtn. Hassan MuyanjaThe Rotary year is year us 2017-2018 and our District Governor’s aspirations are replant trees in our District. I can’t imagine a country,a district or even a continent without trees, trees provide many uses ranging from provision of fruits, shade, timber,herbal medicine, prevents against soil erosion among others. It’s therefore,my humble appeal to rotarians to embrace this call whole heartedly, let’s all replant trees whether in our homes,villages but most importance participate in all the mission green projects this rotary year as shall be communicated.
Together, we Dan make our country and our District green.
WHAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT YOU?
For the past two week or so the rotary fraternity has been talking good of our fallen Comrade RIPE Sam Owori and our missed opportunities for his and our IR presidency as Rotary district 9211. People are still talking about Sam and the State had to pick interest in the issue and even offered our RIPE a state funeral. This is a man that was not a Politician, nor a professor nor the richest but still we all honored him. Sam had one thing above all; He was a true Rotarian.Intrinsically, we all want to be like Sam, ideally we desire to be the kind of Sam but are we True Rotarians? The answer is yours to keep as a Rotarian and your deeds will make us determine who we shall call you when you leave for your next destination on your way to meet your creator. Do we live in the life of a Rotarian with the guide of the Four Way Taste?
We are honored to have lived in the times of Good people but that alone does not make us good people. What we are doing and what we ought to do from today, will determine if we are among the good people. We move around taking of our friends in the back; it’s called back stabbing. We assassinate them, we lie, we do ill thing to our societies and we meet finally and fellowship. That’s not how Rotarians live and that was not how Sam live. If we are to be the next Sam let us live like Sam.
Aine Amos
PRO RC Kajjansi
My one month experience as club secretary
By Rtn. Mujurizi Flavia Natukunda
PE/CLUB SECRETARY
When you are an ordinary club member, it is always the usual Wednesday fellowships, visiting other clubs when you can, visiting projects, and attending both social or and sad occasions of a rotarian.
I didn’t know that being a club secretary demands more than that. On top of what I have mentioned above, you are the Fellowship and Board Secretary, make continuous communications to club members, make reports to the District Office and any other communications to and from the club.
Being a ‘BBC’ (born before computers) person, my biggest challenge was the club runner and Rotary club central. Thanks to AG Julie who took me through the process.
As practice of our club, before you become a president you must have been a secretary the previous year.Thanks to those bright members who made that byelaw. In fact being a club secretary is a good training for any president. My one month of being a secretary for RC Kajjansi has made me a better rotarian than i was before.
