The organizing committee for the Rotary District 9213 annual conference has announced that Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi will grace the 100th conference as the keynote speaker.
The conference will be held at the Civil Service College Uganda in Jinja city from April 9 to 12, 2025. Popularly known as ‘the green sheikh’ for his social, environmental and sustainability advocacy, Abdul Aziz, who is a member of the Ajman royal family in the United Arab Emirates, will meet all his expenses.
Henry Rugamba, chair of the organizing committee, said Aziz will stay around after the conference to have discussions with officials of the ministry of Water and Environment. The conference will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Kampala, the oldest club in the district, and its platinum sponsor is Centenary bank, committing Shs 100 million.
Centenary has committed another Shs 100 million to sponsor the annual conference of District 9214 which will take place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in May 2025. Rugamba hailed Centenary’s sponsorship of the Dar conference even when the bank does not do any trade in Tanzania; it only participates in events and collaborations of Rotary International in Tanzania.
Rugamba told a media briefing at Sheraton Kampala hotel on April 3 that the conference will have 1,179 delegates, with speakers from Uganda, Kenya and South Africa. It will be chaired by Anne Nkutu, the district governor.
It will encompass several activities such as a visit to Kiira Motors plant, water sports on the Nile, golf tournament, wellness sessions for adolescents and retirees, launch of the Cancer run 2025, health camps in the districts of Jinja, Kamuli and Iganga, and musical entertainment by Afrigo band, among others.
Nkutu said this year’s conference is historical because it marks 100 years of Rotary in Uganda, adding, “This conference is not just a gathering of Rotarians; it is [also] a celebration of service, leadership, the spirit of giving back to society [and their impact]”.
Besides Centenary bank, 16 other sponsors have come on board. These are: Parliament of Uganda, Uganda Breweries, NCBA bank, Fireworks Advertising, Civil Aviation Authority, Kiira Motors, Uganda Airlines, Quality Chemicals, Liberty Insurance, Roke Telecom, PSALMS Food Industries (SUMZ), Bank of Uganda, UEGCL, Vaal Real Estate, Rosefoam and Krystal Water.
