Hannington Sebuliba works on an issue of his club’s bulletin.

By Hannington Sebuliba, Rotary Club of Kajjansi, Uganda

I joined Rotary in 2010 after spending five years covering Rotary events for our local newspaper. I used to see the way Rotary members were serving the disadvantaged in our community, and it left a mark on my heart.

One day, Rotarian Charles Baganja asked me to give a talk at the Rotary Club of Kajjansi, Uganda, on newspaper production, and I accepted the invite. After the talk, members of the club asked me to join. Ever since, I have not looked back. I have served as bulletin editor, director of public relations, and now membership director. Rotary has shaped my way of life.

Newsletter redesign

When I first joined, Baganja told me that the club lacked someone of my profession. But I couldn’t figure out how a broke person like me could be useful to Rotary. I was no longer an active journalist by then, and I had always thought Rotary was a club for rich people who had money to spare for bus shelters and water tanks and things.

But I began attending the weekly fellowship and was warmly welcomed. One of the members asked me to help with the club newsletter, which at that time was very small and printed in black and white. It wasn’t long before I was helping design the newsletter, eventually expanding it and producing it in color.

I began taking photos of club events to pair with items in the newsletter. It was not always easy, because you have to find just the right vantage point to capture the moment, tell a story, and save it for history. I tend to focus on capturing little details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

Sharing photos 

Soon, I was looking for other ways to share the images and publicize our club. I began a Picasa album and launched our club’s Facebook page. We also have a blog and videos on YouTube.

Because of the visibility our club was gaining, other clubs invited me to speak, and I did my best to encourage their members to use the tools at their disposal to promote their clubs.

I could never have managed any of this on my own. I am grateful for the support of my mentor, the Rev. Grace Sentongo, a member of the club; past president Peace Taremwa, who has supported me financially; and many other members and past presidents. Rotary has given me the satisfaction of helping my club and others. You, too, can make a difference through Rotary.

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