First Woman Rotary International President Jennifer Jones Visits Uganda

The First Woman Rotary International President, Dr. Jennifer Jones, is in Uganda to assess the impact of work done by Rotarians in the country under her tour code-named the “Imagine Impact Tour”.

Jones, a Canadian, also first woman President of the 117-year-old charity organisation, took office as President in July 2022.

She arrived at Entebbe Airport Wednesday August 31, and was received by dignitaries from Rotary.

Part of the visit and objective, is to showcase what Rotarians do to change the world for the better and to activate and inspire them as people of action and change makers.

The tour in Uganda will primarily focus on Peace Building and Conflict Prevention and also provide examples of how Rotary makes a measurable difference and raise awareness and understanding of Rotary in Uganda.

During her week-long tour, from Wednesday 31st August to September 7th 2022, Jones will visit the Rotary Peace Centre at Makerere University and tour a number of projects implemented by Rotarians in Uganda which include the Mengo Hospital Rotary Blood Bank, the Rotary Centenary Bank Cancer Ward at Nsambya Hospital and the Parliament of Uganda where she will attend a special sitting of Parliament to recognise Rotary International.

The Rotary International President will also meet senior government officials, including president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, to discuss matters of mutual interest and will also launch the Rotary flagship projects of Basic Education and Literacy Enhancement Programme and the Rotary Maternal Village Ambulance Programme accordingly.

Other projects to be visited include the Mulago Heart Institute and the Buikwe Youth Vocational Institute.

The Rotary International President will also flag off over 20,000 runners at the Rotary Cancer Run on Sunday 4th September at the Kololo Ceremonial grounds.

The highlight of the visit is to spearhead the fundraising drive for the Rotary Peace Center, which is housed at Makerere University.

In 2020, Makerere University was accorded the honour of hosting the first Rotary Peace Center in Africa; one of seven across the globe.

Other centers are located in North Carolina-USA, Tokyo-Japan, Bradford-England, Brisbane-Australia, Uppsala-Sweden and Bangkok-Thailand.

The second edition of the Africa Peace Concert will be held at the Speke Resort Munyonyo and will feature performances by prominent Ugandan artistes like Naava Grey, Michael Kitanda, Blackroots Unlimited and the Department of Film and Performing Arts at Makerere University. Rotary creates environments of peace.

“As a humanitarian organisation, peace is a cornerstone of our mission. We believe that when people work to create peace in their communities, that change can have a global impact,” says Past District Governor Emmanuel Katongole, Chair of the Organising Committee for the visit.

The Rotary Peace Program has a vision of sustainable peace, encompassing a network of peacebuilders and community leaders dedicated to preventing and resolving conflicts around the globe.

Annually, Rotary awards fully funded scholarships for dedicated peace and development leaders from around the world to study at any of its seven peace centers.