Hamlet, who initiated what became our club’s long standing and valued projects in Uganda described the next evolution of himself… his latest club… and rise of Uganda setting a positive example for the rest of Africa.  He is now the President of the Rotary Club of Kanungu Bwindi Forest considered “The Wildest Club in Africa” and as is the tradition in Rotary, presented his club’s banner.  Hamlet’s club is in the South of Uganda, near the border with Rwanda.  The Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is home to the Gorilla family studied by Diane Fossey… and tours can be arranged.

Over the years our club projects grew starting with a water well and 1.5 miles of pipe for a village of 5000 (which became national news), then we developed an accredited college (Great Lakes Regional College) and obtained a $300,000 Health and Humanity grant. In all since 2003 our club has coordinated over $500,000 for projects in Uganda.

Hamlet’s club of 20+ members has lofty goals:

• develop a satellite club
• reduce youth poverty with education (82% of youth are unemployed)
• develop more clean water and sanitation
• focus on adolescent reproductive health to reduced overpopulation
• rehab a 75 year old hospital including purchasing an ambulance

Hamlet summarized the “good news” about Uganda and the challenges still faced… and what needs to be done over the next 10 years to make a difference and set the standard for neighboring countries.

Firstly he orientated us to the geographically diverse, mineral rich, landlocked country that has been working to reverse the damage done by Idi Amin’s regime felled in the 1970’s:

• Population grow is 3% per year doubling the population every 20 years
• average births are 7 per female, in part because parents are fearful kids will die (60-70/1000 die before the age of 1 year!)
• there is an 87% drop off of kids from education before the end of high school

On the plus side Hamlet described Uganda as a “Rising country in Africa” and shared the progress being made

• in 15 years enrollment has increased in school from 1.5 to8 million
• there has been political stability for 30 years with a President adept at juggling (and respecting) the complexities of cultural and religious differences
• the economy is growing at at steady 6% p.a.
• Uganda’s armed forces keep threats at bay – there is safety throughout the country
• there are now 40 universities graduating 70,000 per year

BUT… 90-95% under or unemployment for the college graduates. For this problem Hamlet has a plan.  He is working to develop and entrepreneurial center in Kampala that will have 12 focused monthly modules for 1000 students at a time.  He said college graduates expected jobs in government and private enterprise and the work is not there.  Graduates need to become entrepreneurial and his center in Kampala should provide the education to bring the next wave of progress to Uganda.