Rotarian Francis Xavier Ssentamu, the District Governor (District 9211 Uganda and Tanzania) has cancelled the District Conference and Assembly that was due to take place in Western Uganda Mbarara district on April 29, 2020 and all rotary meetings due to Coronavirus pandemic.
Ssentamu says the health and well being of the family of Rotary and the population we serve is always of paramount importance to them and he made the communication with a heavy heart but knowing it’s the right thing to do.
“It is with regret that I have to communicate bad news to you in relation to that the 95th DCA of D9211 to be held in Mbarara, Uganda. “Ssentamu said.
He says that a special team of District 9211 mandated to assess the situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and recommend the best possible options has concluded that the 95th DCA must be cancelled.
The Governor says the team’s primary aim was to ensure the safety of the Rotary family and the community at large.
He says, In addition, the team also took into consideration the latest government advisories related to meetings and travel restrictions.
“The team did consider the option of postponement but concluded that there isn’t sufficient predictability of the pandemic currently developing in our region and hence concluded that it was not a viable option.” He adds.
Ssentamu says it is an unprecedented decision in their District but a right and necessary one as protecting the health and safety of their attendees and the community at large is their highest priority.
“At this time, we kindly ask that you do not contact the 95th DCA Registration Team to inquire about refunds as we work diligently to define the most appropriate approach for the same. The information will be communicated in due course. “He further remarks.
The governor says that with the cancellation of the DCA, they are already working on ensuring that all the official business normally conducted at the DCA will still be carried out using on-line tools available to them. This is important to ensure continuity with a smooth transition to the incoming team on July 1, 2020.
He says details related to any voting requirements will be sent out in due course. Other Rotary meetings and Events, further to the guidance government, it is also advised that all Clubs avoid in-person meetings and move all meetings online using various platforms available (zoom, goto meetings, Nextiva, Zoho, Skype, etc.) for the same. This may serve a good example of our Ability to Adapt.
“I have no doubt that we will come through this and gather in the future to celebrate with an even deeper appreciation for our work, our experiences, and the many connections we have made through Rotary. He states.
“Until then, thank you for your understanding of this difficult decision, please know that we will make decisions as quickly as we can. As I am sure you can imagine, Rotary members are operating in a challenging situation. Please be safe as you continue to take action and do well throughout the world. “Governor said.
On March 18, 2020 President Yoweri Museveni ordered for closure of all teaching institutions, Churches, bars in a bid to mitigate the spread of Coronavirus. Currently Uganda has no confirmed case of the Wuhan virus. The virus is currently spread to over 160 countries. According to World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, the virus has claimed 8,648 people and 207,855 confirmed to have tested positive.
