SECTION: ICYMI

Highlights From LaST Monday Fellowship

The fellowship kicked off with a vibrant welcome for our members, visiting Rotarians, and guests. A special shout-out went to Michael, who was warmly welcomed as a prospective new member of the Rotary Club of Kampala North. We also extended our gratitude to Edg, Ritu, and Rishi for joining us to support our guest speaker. All attendees were encouraged to feel right at home!

President's Remarks: Key Club Updates

Our President addressed several vital club matters, providing critical updates on funding deadlines, upcoming events, and international travel complications:

Urgent Call for BWambara Global Grant Action

"The Bwambara Global Grant was officially approved in mid-May. The club has pledged $5,000, but current pledges stand at $1,850, leaving a deficit of $3,150. The absolute district deadline for submission is 30 June 2026."
— President Stella Alibateese

Taiwan Trip Cancellation: Members were informed that Ugandan nationals have been barred from entering Taiwan as of approximately June 2 due to the Ebola epidemic. This resulted in canceled visas for several members, including the Club President.
June Theme: Members are heavily encouraged to focus on Rotary Fellowships throughout June—sharing passions, vocations, and actively reconnecting with one another.
Home Hospitality: The highly anticipated home hospitality event is officially confirmed for 27 June 2026. Spouses are more than welcome, as the current Ebola situation is not considered a major threat to this domestic gathering.

Guest Presentation: Beyond Charity — Making Sustainable Change

Mariana Lopez, Regional Programs Manager for Africa at the Suyana Foundation, delivered a powerful and eye-opening presentation on moving past traditional NGO dependency toward sustainable, locally-led development. Originally from Spain and possessing over a decade of international development experience, Mariana currently oversees Suyana’s portfolio across Uganda and Rwanda.

You can find the full presentation by Suyana here:

View Presentation →

The Suyana Foundation Factsheet

Feature	Details
Founded	Established in 2003 in Switzerland; expanded operations to Uganda & Rwanda in 2022–2023.
The Three Pillars	Education, Livelihood, and Health—recognizing that these are deeply interconnected to ensure true project permanence.
Unique Funding Model	100% of donations go directly to projects. Foundational capital is invested into assets that generate revenue to cover the 19% administrative costs.
Uganda Footprint	• Teso: 625 farming families & 40 primary schools. • Lira: 200 farming households & 5 primary schools. • Kanungu: 100 households, 5 health facilities, & 5 primary schools.
Core Philosophy	Communities must showcase readiness for project ownership. Local stakeholders are embraced as "partners" rather than dependent "beneficiaries".

"In education, Suyana addresses core structural barriers such as the complete lack of school feeding programs, which directly drive high dropout rates. In rural Uganda, approximately only 10% of children manage to complete their primary education."
— Mariana Lopez

Key Q&A Insights & Partnership Opportunities

Market Linkages for Farmers: Mariana openly noted that market access remains a tough hurdle. To strengthen market positioning, Suyana’s next three-year cycle will place heavy focus on helping farmers form unified cooperatives.
Partnering with Rotary: Suyana is highly receptive to partnering with Kampala North through financial funding, in-kind resource donations, hands-on time, or strategic networking connections. Members possessing expertise in market linkage and vocational training are strongly encouraged to connect with Mariana directly.

Celebrations & Fellowship

Happy Contributions: Our SAA successfully collected a grand total of 300,000 in happiness and fine contributions, mirroring the high spirits and deep engagement of the fellowship session. A special mention went out to prospective member Bill.
Birthday Cheers: The club harmoniously sang "Happy Birthday" to four of our Stellar celebrants: Rtn Mera ("booty"), Rtn Stevens-Munabi, Rtn Sharon, and Rtn Joseph Kizito Nsubuga.
The Final Toast: To close a fantastic evening of global perspective and deep club bonds, a final toast to Rotary International.