PP Karoli shares about Rotary awareness during the first fellowship of the year.

He started with a joke he had heard on CBS FM’s Sports Programme Kaliisoliiso. “ A parent of the bridegroom, gave his son advice on his wedding night. “ My dear son if you want to be a responsible husband, you must be aware that marriage is like a vehicle. The moment one tyre gets a problem, the vehicle can’t move on. son have you understood? ‘yee taata’ the son replied adding that the message, I have got is that I should always have a spare tyre” the whole club burst into laughter.

Now I would like to get two opinions, one from SSS, what does the word awareness mean?

SSS: To get to know when something is done and you are aware of what can happen

Karoli: Is there any vernacular proverb to that effect?

SSS: Ekijja omanyi- Kinyaga bitono (fore warned is fore armed)

Karoli: In Rotary when we talk about awareness we simply interested in those norms that we would like the community to understand. what are those values and ideals Rotary stand for. What is that a man in Kisoro would like to appreciate about Rotary? Unless we shared the values what Rotarians stand for we shall operate like a white elephant project amongst a community that does not understand what we do. If a roof like this one fell on us, guys outside there would comment that a roof collapses on drunkards, not knowing that we are Rotarians of substance. Yet we have to improve on the standards of living of our disadvantaged members of society.

If I may ask what are those six areas that we are focusing on as Rotarians as we talk now? The first one Frank. Incidentally these are millennium development goals.

Yes PP SSS how many of your neighbours are aware that you are a Rotarian?

SSS: They are many simply because they have seen Rotarians coming to my home for a home hospitality and I explained to them.

It would be very difficult for any one of us to mentor a person when he or she does not  know the values that we cherish. Rtn. Moses what are those issues that you would focus on to convince a new Rotarian? In response Moses talked about the object of Rotary.

Ow’omutima Owen, how can the object of Rotary assist you to explain the avenues of service? In response Owen said “Am listening”

He went on to ask other Rotarians to relate the various parts of the object of Rotary how they relate to the five avenues of service.

President KIBUM what is that makes the New Generation an outstanding avenue of service? She answered by saying that the members of the New Generation are going to be Rotarians tomorrow to take over the mantle of Rotary.

It was such an interesting fellowship.

Rotary Club of Kajjansi in a drive to turn Lubowa hill into a green belt.

By Rtn. Hannington Sebuliba

Miles South East of Kampala, is a lonely place called Lubowa where St. John’s Anglican Church of Uganda is located. From a distance, you see a handful buildings and a perimeter wall fence with thickets around. You can hardly see a tree in the vicinity. Most of the trees on this Lubowa hill have either been cut for charcoal, timber or cleared for construction of new houses.

President Enid & PP Julie of Rotary Club of La Crosse Valley View planting a tree at St. John's Church Lubowa

The Rotary Club of Kajjansi has embarked on campaign to turn the area into a gree belt once again. In October Last year, they planted a number of trees in the area together with Christians of that church.  Assistant Governor Ann Munywevu who was the chief guest participated fully in this exercise and went on to request her club (the Rotary Club of Kampala Central to donate more trees). In December, she delivered the 100 tree seedlings to the Rotary Club of Kajjansi.

On Saturday January 5, 2013, the club decided to plant the 100 tree seedlings again at this Lubowa Church. The event coincided with the Rotary Friendship Exchange visit of Past President Julie Keitel of the Rotary Club of La Crosse- Valley View .

In a cassava and potato field 

PP Julie fully participated in the tree planting under the scorching sun. She was excited for the first time in life to see a potato and cassava gardens. When asked whether she knew what the vegetation she was walking on she said “No I thought these are humps” she said after stepping on potato mounds a.k.a. ebikata in the local dialect. She said that she was happy for having been able to see those food crops for the first time in Africa.

The planting was attended by the host President Enid Asingwire, IPP Peace Taremwa, Rtn. Adrine, Rtn. Hannington and parishioners of this church. The Head of laity Mr. Kiggwe was all praises to the Rotary Club of Kajjansi for caring after the environment. “We are pleased for this gesture of giving us trees to plant on this hill” he said.

After planting the 100 tree seedlings of Casuarina equisetifolia PP Julie was happy to see Lake Victoria, the biggest fresh water lake in Africa. We had to take her to Kigo to have a look at the lake and actually touch the waters of this water body.

PP Julie feeling the waters of Lake Victoria

The journey to the rough murram road to Kigo was another experience to her. She wondered how Ugandans survive on such bad roads with potholes  as big as ponds. On the way to the lake shores, she managed to see different fruit trees including jackfruit, pawpaws, mangoes, oranges to mention but a few.

At the lake shore about 200 metres from Lake Victoria Serena Hotel, she had to step in the waters feeling the cool breeze.

Rtn. Julie shows Rotarians and guests where her Rotary Club of of La Crosse Valley View is situated

After the visit to the lake, President Enid together with Rotarians of the Rotary Club of  Kajjansi and members of St. John’s Church Lubowa, had  dinner at the President’s Lweza Bright nursery School till late in the night. The evening was worth well spent.