By Mulengera Reporters
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has injected Shs 20 million into innovation-driven community initiatives under the Rotary Club of Kampala Ssese Islands, as the club marked the end of the leadership tenure of outgoing president Deborah Itwau during a ceremony held in Kampala.
The funding, announced at a leadership farewell event hosted at Kati Kati Restaurant, is aimed at strengthening innovation, health delivery, and community development projects implemented through Rotary’s vocational and service programmes.
Fred Otunnu, Director of Corporate Affairs at UCC, said the regulator’s support is part of a broader strategy to move innovations from ideas into practical, scalable solutions that address real community challenges.
He explained that the Shs 20 million contribution is intended to support innovators identified through the Annual Communications Innovation Award (ASIA), which has for several years recognised individuals and institutions developing technology-driven solutions to national problems.
“We support innovators through innovation hubs and partners like Rotary to ensure ideas move from concept to practical solutions that can benefit society,” Otunnu said.
He added that selected innovators receive seed funding of about Shs 10 million each, alongside access to incubation support at innovation hubs such as Nakawa, where ideas are refined into viable products and services. The process also includes formal registration through the Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB) and mentorship aimed at commercialisation.
One of the highlighted innovations is ECOVAS, an energy and environmental sustainability solution designed to reduce environmental degradation while promoting social impact. Otunnu said such innovations align with UCC’s goal of supporting practical solutions to Uganda’s development challenges.
The Rotary Club leadership transition event also drew attention from senior figures in the judiciary and civil society, including Supreme Court Justice Mike Chibita, who served as guest of honour.
Justice Chibita praised Rotary’s contribution to community development, citing its involvement in building health centres, supporting education infrastructure, and facilitating medical interventions for vulnerable communities.
He noted that Rotary’s work complements government efforts, particularly in areas where access to services remains limited. These include health care delivery, education support, and environmental conservation initiatives such as wetland protection and tree planting.
Chibita also acknowledged ongoing discussions about potentially joining Rotary, though he said the timing had not yet aligned. He praised the organisation’s consistency in service delivery and its network of professionals committed to community impact.
Outgoing president Deborah Itwau reflected on a decade of leadership, highlighting major achievements in health, education, and community development across the Ssese Islands and other regions.
Among the flagship projects is a fully functional health centre in Daje, Kalangala District, developed through a partnership between the Rotary Club, the Wamala family, and local government authorities. The facility has since been handed over to government for staffing, management, and service delivery.
Itwau also highlighted the construction of a dormitory at Bishop Dunstan Senior Secondary School in Kalangala, which will accommodate about 80 students once completed. She noted that the club has also expanded a school in Daje that now serves approximately 480 learners, supported by classroom construction, fencing, and other infrastructure improvements.
She said what began as a small educational initiative over 10 years ago has grown into a fully developed learning institution providing access to education for children in the area.
A major milestone under her leadership is a global grant-supported floating clinic project designed to serve communities across the 84 islands of the Ssese archipelago. The boat-based clinic, implemented in partnership with the Buganda Kingdom and the Rotary Club of Antioch in the United States, is expected to significantly improve access to healthcare in hard-to-reach areas.
In Serere District, Rotary outreach programmes have also delivered medical services to more than 2,000 patients, distributed maternal health kits, and supported the establishment of a maternity ward at Akoboi Health Centre, which currently serves multiple parishes.
Itwau said the initiatives reflect Rotary’s commitment to sustainable community development, particularly in health and education, and credited partnerships with government and international Rotary networks for enabling large-scale impact.
As leadership transitions to a new team, speakers at the event emphasized continuity in service delivery, innovation support, and partnership-building, particularly in advancing grassroots development projects.
The ceremony concluded with renewed commitments from UCC and Rotary leadership to continue supporting innovation, improving health access, and strengthening community infrastructure across Uganda. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
