Rotary Districts 9212, 9213, 9214 Hold Inaugural Inter- District Leadership Summit
By Caroline Njiru and Eric Ombok
Rotary District 9212 (Kenya, Ethiopia, South Sudan and Eritrea), District 9213 (Uganda) and District 9214 (Tanzania) held the first-ever inter-district leadership summit and friendship exchange at Speke Resort, Munyonyo, in Uganda.
The summit was held from March 21, 2024 to March 22, led by the respective District Governors; Leonard Ithau, Edward Kakembo Nsubuga and Francisco Ssemwanga.
Kicking off the summit was a warm welcome cocktail hosted by the Rotary Club of Kijjansi, setting the tone for the days ahead with its spirit of camaraderie and shared purpose. Attendees from across the six countries gathered at the prestigious Speke Resort in Munyonyo for a full day of formal sessions and boot camp, delving into key issues and strategies aimed at advancing the impact of the 3 districts.
The delegates were also hosted for a fellowship by the Rotary Club of Buziga with Rotary D9212 District Governor Nominee Wairimu Njage as the guest speaker. Here, members exchanged ideas, shared experiences, and strengthened connections, embodying the spirit of Rotary’s community-driven approach.
Highlighting the summit were visits to significant large impact projects making a tangible difference in the region. From the groundbreaking work at the Rotary Cancer Centre at Nsambya Hospital to the life-saving initiatives of the Rotary Blood Bank at Mengo Hospital, participants gained firsthand insight into the transformative power of Rotary-funded projects. Additionally, a visit to the Makerere Peace Centre underscored Rotary’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in conflict-affected areas.
As the summit drew to a close, participants converged in Jinja for the Nile Cancer Run, a spirited fundraising event aimed at generating support for charitable endeavors.
The leadership of the three districts agreed to set us a standing committee to address cross cutting issues covering areas of common interest. The committee is mandated to implement resolutions covering five aspects.
Membership Growth and Diversity
The three participating districts commit to implementing strategies to increase membership diversity, including outreach to underrepresented groups, fostering inclusive club environments, and providing mentorship and support for new members.
Foundation Giving
The three districts commit to increasing their overall combined giving to the Rotary Foundation by $1 million within the next one year, with the understanding that increased giving will directly translate into increased impact and positive change in communities served by Rotary worldwide.
Global and District Grants
Rotary districts 9212, 9213 and 9214 reaffirm their commitment to supporting and promoting the use of Global and District Grants by encouraging Rotary clubs within their districts to actively participate in both programs by identifying, developing, and implementing high-impact projects that address community needs and align with Rotary’s areas of focus.
The Districts will ensure compliance with Rotary’s grant policies, guidelines, and ethical standards to maintain the integrity and reputation of the Global and District Grant programs and uphold the trust of donors and stakeholders.
Structure, Policy and Administrative Framework
The summit reaffirmed their districts commitment to upholding and strengthening structure, policy and administrative frameworks by reviewing and updating club and district bylaws, administrative procedures and governance practices to ensure alignment with Rotary’s constitutional documents, Rotary Code of Policies, and Rotary International’s guidelines and standards.
They also pledged to promote transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in the management of Rotary clubs, districts, and Rotary International affairs, including financial management, reporting, and decision-making processes.
In addition, the three districts will collaborate with other districts and Rotary clubs to share best practices, resources, and innovations in structure policy and administrative frameworks to enhance organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
Joint Activities
A further pledge was made to organize joint annual district leadership summits and prioritize joint sustainable community development projects and collaborate on implementing scalable solutions in all the seven areas of focus for Rotary.
