“Accountability is not only for what we do but also for what we fail to do, for which we are equally answerable.” Just as our actions have consequences, our inactions can also lead to setbacks. As Stephen Covey wisely said, “Accountability breeds response-ability.”
Khodeyo! Welcome to the Jubilation of Magic — the much-anticipated 100th DISCON. If this milestone event didn’t inspire you to save, it surely enhanced your fashion sense and expanded your wardrobe options! While your role at this Centennial DISCON is to celebrate, DG Anne and I have the added responsibility of accounting not only for our actions but also for yours. No worries — it’s only a matter of time before we swap roles. After all, life is more about acts than lamentations — the Book of Acts has 28 chapters, while Lamentations has only five. Isn’t that a wake-up call to focus more on taking action than dwelling on regret?
Navigating Our Journey Together
Back in the saddle, we embarked on a Rotaract District Trip — a journey to our Rotaract Dreamland, the vision of what we aspire our District to become. This trip required passion, enthusiasm, sacrifice, and dedication. With limited time on our hands, we chose to travel by air. While this was my first flight as Captain, I had thoroughly prepared, learning invaluable lessons from two former Captains. With DG Anne as my trusted co-captain — someone I had previously worked with on the District Membership Committee — I was confident in our ability to ensure a
smooth take-off and landing.
Our passengers were well-briefed, and each had their itinerary in hand. The excitement was palpable — we were finally heading to our Promised Land.
As the journey began, a classification of travellers emerged: some were first-time flyers, while others were seasoned travellers. While some fastened their seatbelts promptly, others couldn’t afford the airfare and chose to drive. For a few, even driving was too costly, so they opted to run. Some, concerned about fatigue, preferred to walk. Despite the differing paces, all were determined to reach the destination.
Key Achievements Along the Way
Our journey has been marked by remarkable milestones which have been possible through the efforts of our Magical presidents, District team, and committed Rotarians who have supported beyond the call:
The Rotaract Africa Summit in November 2024 drew over 300 participants from 19 countries, showcasing our strength as hosts, partners in service, and contributors to impactful projects.
The Rotaract Earth Initiative underscored our unwavering commitment to environmental conservation. The Edition held in Kasese reflected Rotaractors’ dedication to rebuilding and preserving our planet.
A notable boost in our Public Image, reflected not only through our revamped website — www.rotaractd9213.org — but also in the enhanced character of our Rotaractors. Stronger partnerships and collaborations have enabled us to extend our reach and amplify our impact. Did you know that all the Rotaractors’ names and their Rotary IDs in our District were added to our Rotaract District Website? This was to selflessly guard our brand and image to Stakeholders.
The unforgettable experience of hosting Rotary International President Stephanie Urchick in January remains a defining moment. Her visit celebrated our projects, highlighted our relevance, and showcased our magical service during the Magical Africa Tours, where activities promoted peace, supported the Rotary Foundation, and strengthened our commitment to community service.
The Rotaract Week as well had a great turn up and was hosted by our own clubs sharing about various topics to improve our service projects, our professional and leadership skills and telling our Rotaract stories to generously share Rotaract with the whole World. We crowned the week with our Rotaract festival and this was a testament of our solidarity and renewal of our commitment to serve. We are grateful to all our sponsors, partners and members who made this a successful celebration.
Representation at Various events including the Zone 22 Institute in Mauritius and the most recently concluded Inter-District Summit in Kenya has extended our collaboration and broadened our knowledge and learnings for which we are grateful.
Lessons, Challenges, and the Road Ahead
As Maya Angelou put it, “Nothing will work unless you do.” While we achieved great milestones, some challenges remain:
We must bolster our contributions to the Rotary Foundation to continue #DoingGoodInTheWorld and #BeingTheGoodInTheWorld.
Our efforts to enhance membership retention, extension, and engagement — including involving corporate members — require renewed focus.
Additionally, improving our Grant Qualification and Utilization remains a priority. With the remaining quarter ahead, I urge us all to embrace change, harness our collective strength, and push forward with renewed determination as we run this final mile.
Moving Forward with Purpose
As we prepare for landing, let those who have reached their service destination be reminded of their duty to assist those whose means of transport could not match the same pace and timing because individually, we are one-drop but together an ocean. As Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wisely noted, “It takes less time to do something right than to explain why you did it wrong.” Let’s commit to doing things right — with purpose, accountability, and passion — to make this journey one we will remember with pride.
With heartfelt appreciation-
Simeo Ssebukulu
Flight Captain, Rotaract D9213, Uganda
