Events as they were

 

Dear reader,

Allow me to start by congratulating the #Kabutemba17 team for a job well done over the weekend. This was by far a very successful project. What is the measure of success you may ask? And I will say, the radiant smiles and gratitude expressed by the young and old alike was more than delightful.

If you are reading this and for one reason or another were not able to make it to Kabutemba, worry not as I will labour to give the blow by blow account of events.

On the evening of Friday the 20^th day of October 2017, the clouds started to darken at approximately 4pm which is expected (It’s never Kabutemba without the rain). The plan was that the team assembles by 5.30pm and sets off at 6 O’clock. Given that President Paul and the iron lady (Nvannugi) were at the forefront of organizing the project logistics, you either had to keep up with the timelines or chase after the bus on a bike. The clouds finally gave way at about 4.45pm and this usually translates into heavy traffic. However, I must say I was quite impressed at the fact that despite the setback, the bus arrived for the pick up on time and there were no major delays (Probably it was because the usual late comers were not scheduled for the night trip, you can take a wild guess).

The team set off at exactly 7.33pm and shortly after, we were stuck in heavy traffic. This definitely worked for few individuals like Past President Sherry and our very own Treasurer, Rtr Ruth who did not have to sit on that bike ride for long chasing after the bus. And now that I think about it, how were we going to survive without the Treasurer? Indeed Paul and Joanne, you guys are quite the daring team. I must also mention, if you are reading this and at about 8pm you were on call with Rtr Andrew (Bugoolobi), you are a woman of power (I would like to believe it was a lady on the other end of the line because if it was a guy, then we are finished!). The young man literally excused himself and ensured he was far enough from the bus to have that conversation (Just in case everything went silent suddenly) that was before he comfortably sat by the walkway like an experienced street hustler to finish his conversation. And interestingly IPP Solomon thought that would be a nice way to express undying commitment (I can’t say I am surprised).

I have always found the trip to Kabutemba quite strange because while it should ordinarily be a 2 hour drive, we somehow always spend eternity on the road. Of course it was a long and fun 6 hour trip. Just to clarify, we lost 90 minutes in traffic and I honestly cannot account for the extra 150 minutes but I can attest to the energy levels exuded on the bus the entire trip; that is a story for another day. It was a safe trip and by 1.30 am, we were pitching camp at the Lutaaya residence. Despite the fact that we were unfashionably late, we were attended to and dinner was served at 2 am. I must say a big thank you to our hosts, these little details may often be taken for granted but Mr and Mrs Lutaaya are definitely heroes in the Kabutemba story.

While I promised to give a blow by blow account of events, allow me skip the events that transpired the first night. I will however thank the Kyambogo gentlemen who successfully locked themselves out of the room where they were to spend the night and were left with no option but to try and ensure we all stayed up with them. You guys were almost successful.

Fast forward to the “Kabutemba Breakfast”; the cassava in Kabutemba is like no other that I have tasted. It literally brings life; there is no better meal for anyone that is getting ready to serve above self! And while cassava is still the topic of discussion, has anyone noticed that the cassava in Kabutemba is the only kind that does not have drowsiness as a side effect? (If you felt sleepy at anyone point, don’t blame the cassava). Shortly after the mouth-watering meal, Rtn Robinah calls out for us to board the bus just like the sweet mother that she is, (God bless her soul!). We all make our way to the bus of course after making sure our tents and belongings are secured in anticipation of a heavy down pour.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This particular trip was a quiet one as people were not only battling the inadequate rest from the previous night but also the discomfort from not knowing their cassava limits. After driving for a while, we finally arrived at the school and were received by an excited group of children who were singing, dancing and welcoming us “on” their school. A huge number of people from near and far had already arrived and anxiously waiting to be attended to. Some of these people were in excruciating pain but their faces clearly lit up when we arrived.

 

It was in this very moment that I released that what we do every time we reach out to a community is far more than the medicine we deliver to these communities but hope is also reignited which is a much greater and more rewarding gift. We quickly distributed roles and set up for the day. There was clearly a lot of work ahead of us and the satisfaction derived from serving each one of these people and watching them smile and light up with hope at the end of the day was something I was looking forward to.

 

 

 

 

People kept streaming in, the numbers kept growing bigger but no one backed out. There was a lot of activity going on, the dental clinic, the treatment and consultation area, the pharmacy where drugs were dispensed after consultation, the menstrual hygiene and awareness workshop where young girls and mothers were equipped with skills on how to make reusable sanitary towels and also sensitized on how to stay clean and avoid infection. Indeed Rotaractors may not have deep pockets, but we definitely have very deep hearts.

At about 12 noon, we received the news that DG Ken was on his way and about to arrive. We set out to meet him and the first stop was at Kantongole and his siblings’ home (Our Bukoto babies and little heroes). We first met these 4 children in 2013 when they hardly had shelter or any basic need of life. By the grace of God, we have been able to build a house they now call home and pay their school fees. Even after all this time, I have never been able to hold back my tears every time we visit these little ones. And no, they are not tears of sorrow or some sort of pity but it’s always a humbling experience to see how far these babies have come.

Katongole at just 14 years is running a home and caring for his siblings. He went on to narrate how he sold his pig during the year and bought another. DG Ken inspired by the young man’s relentless spirit, offered to buy two  pigs for him and AG Eric also offered another pig. I couldn’t help my emotions when Kantogole smiled so hard and knelt to say thank you. DG Ken also offered to have their house plastered and to set up a solar system for them. God bless your soul DG Ken and God bless those little children, I pray they grow up to be great leaders and serve above self. We then handed over the foodstuffs we had brought for the children and returned to the school where the medical camp was ongoing. The DG was taken round to the different work stations and thereafter joined the team for fellowship.

You might be wondering why there was fellowship during a project, right? We all know Rotary is about service above self. For the Rotary Club of Bukoto, the best time for the DG’s official visit is during the project; this not only tells a story of what the club is doing but the DG gets to be part of the project.

The fellowship chaired by IPP Opira started with the Rotary norms before being constituted to a club assembly after which the president informed those in attendance of the purpose of the meeting. This was later followed by the introduction of the DG by AG Eric (this man has quite the CV). The DG in his submission thanked the Rotarians for the good job well done and he thanked them for the continued teamwork with the Rotaractors. He had many praises for the team and good ideas that he shared. He later urged the Rotaractors to start transitioning to Rotary; notably the likes of Solomon (in his absence) were requested to stop hiding in Rotaract and move on to join their age-mates. Fellowship ended at about 4.30pm at which point, he proceeded to plant a tree as an act under his Mission Green campaign. The CC, AG and DRR planted trees too. DG ken addressed the crowd that had gathered and officially closed the medical camp shortly after his speech. People were then invited to lunch and departure thereafter.

After the sumptuous lunch and a long day’s work, we were all looking forward to getting on that bus and heading back to the Lutaaya residence when we noticed the long line of patients waiting in queue at the dental clinic. I was moved by the selflessness of the Rotaractors and dentists who despite their fatigue and the fact that time was fast spent opted to stay back and ensure that each and every one of the patients had been attended to even at nightfall, these guys used car lights and torches to get the job done. I am sure by now you agree that indeed this was by far a successful project. For the first time in the history of the Kabutemba community project, that anticipated heavy down pour never arrived, I also believe it was the first time we had no tents for shelter in the history of this project and no I don’t believe in coincidences or luck, I believe there is a God that watches out for us as we reach out to His people.

Before I joined Rotaract, I always heard that Rotaract is about service and fun and this day I realise the perspective from which that fun is derived; it’s more of a celebration! When we returned to the Lutaaya residence, despite the fatigue and long day’ work, people still gathered around to dance, chat and have fun. It was not because we are young and energetic (no doubt, we are!) but for me it was that joy from making a difference in the Kabutemba community. I will not go into the blow by blow account of that night’s events but will wrap this up by once again thanking each and every one that made time to be with Bukoto in Kabutemba, you are a good soldier!

Daphne & Paul.

 

WHO ARE YOU? Foot prints in the sand.

Have you ever wondered why the question ‘WHO ARE YOU?’ makes many of us lose our composure and start to deeply think through our responses albeit its simplicity? Depending on the context in which this question is asked, usually the chain reaction is that of discomfort, uncertainty, memory lapse and the list goes on and on.

One may ask, why would a question so simple and straight forward give way to that kind of reaction? Is it that we are not comfortable with our persona? Are we scared of how people perceive us? Is it that deep-seated longing for acceptance that then gives way to fear of rejection? Or is it that we just don’t know who we are?

For some people, it is not about the perception or acceptance by society that springs up the fear but the hard realization that we all need to leave a legacy and not just any legacy, but one that we would be proud to pass on to many generations to come.

Last Wednesday, It was intriguing when the guest speaker requested that each one of us anonymously write about someone in the room during fellowship. It was excitement for people like Tush, who had just been surprised by the unexpected presence of his ‘French Mentee’ Priscilla Ajiji (thank you for a pleasant surprise Jiji). For people like IPP Solomon, it was mixed feelings with the fear of being described by his best physical feature; “the dreadlocks” being the most dominant. While for people like Mildred, no amount of persuasion by the guest speaker could convince her to participate in such an exercise.

The guest speaker then went on to call out individuals randomly and asked each one to let the audience know who they think they are and later he read out what had been written about that particular individual. I must say, this made me realize how we often sell ourselves short. Kind, loving, caring, committed were not the words any one around the room used to describe themselves. Many went for the more serious descriptions while carefully avoiding the negative boundary.

Does anyone remember the priceless blush on Edgar’s face when someone literally poured out their heart and described him as kind, committed, generous… and good looking? At this point, the young man could not bear the agony of not knowing who this might be and requested that the speaker make an exception and reveal the identity of the individual to which the speaker declined. I must say, I am not certain whether Edgar was curious about the person’s identity because he wanted to reward the individual or because he wanted to rule out the fact that the individual could be either sex. I’ll let Edgar worry about that!

I believe we all learnt a thing or two from the speaker’s captivating and engaging discussion. Personally, I was challenged to be that person that not only makes an impact but also creates change. Think about it, Rotaract is about service above self, about making better the lives and communities of people who are less privileged than we are. But what good is a one day medical camp if one week down the road, the community will still have no access to basic medical care? What good is a onetime donation of sanitary towels or scholastic materials if one month down the road these supplies will have run out? There is absolutely nothing wrong in carrying out a medical camp/donating scholastic materials, sanitary towels etc. However, this will only create impact for a while that may be forgotten along the way. So my challenge to all of us is to get more creative and innovative with our service ideas. I challenge us to carry out more inclusive projects, projects that will equip communities with skills that will transform a generation. Because while impact is ephemeral, change is perennial.

In addition, I would like to challenge each one of us as individuals. The Rotary platform has given each Interactor, Rotaractor and Rotarian such a unique opportunity to make a difference in our society and the world over. How have you taken advantage of this? We have just lost an incredible Rotarian who used this platform the best way he knew how to; we will definitely miss his selfless service and leadership (Rest in Peace RIPE Sam Owori, you fought the good fight and run the race!). This should bring us to deeply ponder on what our individual contribution to our clubs and the entire fraternity has been thus far and what kind of legacy we shall leave. If you were not part of the Rotary family tomorrow, what would your club miss? What would the fraternity miss? Change starts with you and me, when we step up to the challenge and bring our unique contribution to the table.

Join us at Bukoto every Wednesday at 6pm, Nommo gallery for more insightful and impactful discussions.

Tales of the DRR’s club Part 1

You all know that feeling of pride that comes from watching your very own become all that you have hoped for and even more. The fulfilment and burst of joy that comes with it. Well for Bukoto, this feeling was rebirthed in our spirits when our very own Amina Nassazi got voted as District Rotaract Representative Nominee. We then waited with a lot of anxiety during the 2015/16 District Conference Assembly which by the way many of us attended on social media. I mean, you understand the hustle, right? A dollar is hard to come by in this “7,000 shilling sugar economy”, so a week long DCA in Entebbe left many of us thinking “#Lifegoals”. Anyhow that is beside the point; it was a Friday evening when we got the news, Amina was finally DRRE. It was excitement and jubilation for the club, let me send my regards to the “Club X5 team” well done!!!

Fast forward, DCA 2016/17, we officially receive our DRR and we are now the DRR's club. (I will not reiterate the fact that many of us were not there to officially witness this, you guys get it). Just like all life cycles, the pressure then kicks in; it’s only natural, right? We are now the DRR's club. I don't need to emphasize the fact that it is one thing to be the DRR's club and it’s another to be “Amina Nassazi, the DRR's club”. Of course we don't want to let her down (we don’t want to imagine the consequences), we are passionate about service and fun which is what Rotaract is about but now we have something else on our plate, we need to impress, it is only natural!

So the questions kick in; is every Bukoto fellowship that Amina attends going to be an official DRR’s visit or can she still collect Polio plus when her buddy group is in-charge? Do we have to show up a certain way to events because it’s now the DRR's club? Well, we all know Tushabe Joseph will have a challenge here, how will his presence get noticed? I honestly don't want to try and imagine what being MGP Paul Nasasira is like (this MGP thing though, that is a story for another day), can't wait to see if his English utterance remains the same under all the pressure.

Fast forward, President Paul informs us of the DRR's official visit and hey, the “butterflies” stage is here. We all know that ambivalence of excitement and anxiety. The club needs to be ready, we need to tick off that “checklist” in order to be deserving of the DRR’s visit (or should I say “Amina, the DRR’s visit”), and we need to make her proud! And at the president’s request, we all agreed that we should dance for her, given this is one of the items to be checked of the list; talk of happiness!!! Allow me say hello from the other side to the Tissa group!

There is nothing as exciting as dance practice, we get elated every time the Rotary North Singing and Dance competitions come round because let us face it, Bukoto has gifted dancers. As luck may have it, this rotary year, Christmas came early and we had to show case our skills at the official DRR’s visit. A one minute shuffle dubbed “the DRR’s visit” was exciting I must say. It was time to put all our special dance moves together and smile for the camera and yes, once again, Bukoto ladies love cameras, so you now understand when I say we were ecstatic about this.

Ladies and gentlemen, the fellowship that was on Wednesday redefined interesting. First and foremost, I have no idea why the memo of the black dress code was shared with everyone that was at the high table but ADDR Noah (poor guy). We also got to learn that our DRR has got an official photographer (times really change). Hello Garvin, thank you for a job well done, you did better that Tushabe Joseph at the ADRR’s visit, not that Tush is Noah’s official photographer but hey, we could not help but notice that country Facebook post. Back to fellowship, am I the only one who noticed a group of individuals who randomly walked up towards the high table and did something that looked like a sway, side to side, front and back and just like that they randomly walked off again. This must have been that “DRR shuffle” and I must say, despite the randomness, I will applaud Past President Zahara Mpaata. If everyone had the enthusiasm that she exuded while dancing, maybe the story would have been different. I will leave it at that, I am sure, y’all now know where to hang out on a Wednesday evening!