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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Rotary Uganda has launched a new mobile money platform to increase their contribution and impact in the communities. In the year ending 30th June 2024, Rotarians in Uganda raised nearly Shs2.5 billion (USD645,000) to support Rotary’s work in local communities all over the world.
This contribution maintains Uganda as the ‘highest-giving’ country in the region, second only to Nigeria in Africa, and among the world’s top 30 ‘giving countries’ to The Rotary Foundation.
To make giving easier and more convenient for more Rotarians, The Rotary 9213 District Governor Anne Nkutu on Monday launched the 25 x 25 TRF Relay, a mobile money-based solution.
Rotary International has set a target of growing the Foundation’s Endowment Fund to $2.025 billion by 2025.
The Rotary Foundation uses this money to provide clean water and sanitation, support education, prevent and treat disease, save mothers and children, grow local economies, promote peace, and protect the environment across the world.
Nkutu launched the platform at Hotel Africana at the event that attracted Past Rotary District Governors, Rotarians, Rotaractors and Guests.
According to a press statement by 9213 Rotary District, the new ‘giving’ platform will complement other ways that Rotarians give to The Rotary Foundation, including direct card payments and collections from their clubs.
Nkutu said that contributions to the Rotary Foundation have enabled clubs to implement community service projects in several areas, including providing clean water and promoting sanitation in remote communities, and constructing classroom blocks and dormitories.
“Part of increasing the impact of our community service projects is ensuring that we have a strong resource base,” said Nkutu.
In the last Rotary year, clubs in District 9213 implemented projects worth more than Shs2 billion.
“This Rotary year, we will consolidate, increase our impact and promote sustainability. We want to build on what is already there, and encourage clubs to stay longer with the projects they are already working on so that we can increase our impact.”’’ Nkutu added
Rotary implemented several life-changing projects, including the construction of the Rotary Blood Bank at Mengo Hospital, that seek to address the challenge of blood shortage in the country.
Others are the ongoing Rotary Cancer Run held annually to raise awareness about the killer disease and support the construction of two bunkers at Nsambya Hospital to accommodate the testing and treatment machines.
Included in the projects is the Rotary Family Health Days, a massive annual 1-3-day nationwide health campaign that provides comprehensive free healthcare services and referrals to thousands of citizens across communities in the country.
The programme, which had served nearly a million Ugandans by the time the Covid-19 Pandemic struck in 2020, was a response to inadequate medical facilities and insufficient numbers of health workers in many communities.
Uganda also hosts a Rotary Peace Centre, the first in Africa, at Makerere University. These Centres train change-makers devoted to peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
Through global grants from The Rotary Foundation, Rotary clubs spread in major towns in Uganda also implement several projects that have changed the lives of many Ugandans.
Rotary District 9213 brings together a network of 4,708 Rotarians and 2,517 Rotaractors from 128 Rotary Clubs and 127 Rotaract Clubs in Uganda.
