The Rotary Club of Medical Pioneers Mengo has officially joined the Rotary fraternity, with CPA Julius Luswata installed as its inaugural Charter President during a ceremony held in Kampala on Saturday.

The institutional Rotary club, which was officially chartered on June 3, 2026, brings together 65 charter members drawn from the medical and allied health professions at Mengo Hospital.

The members include doctors, nurses, administrators and other healthcare professionals who are building on Mengo Hospital’s 129-year legacy of providing healthcare services.

During his installation address, Luswata said the formation of the club was inspired by the need to extend the hospital’s culture of healing beyond its physical premises and address some of the challenges affecting both patients and healthcare workers.

“We are not just chartering a club but planting a seed of service above self, inside the very walls where healing happens every day,” Luswata said.

“We treat the body, but Rotary calls us to also care for the spirit, the community and the dignity of those who serve.”

Luswata said the club was established around three major concerns facing the healthcare sector: the high cost of medical care, the welfare and wellness of healthcare workers, and the need to reposition Mengo Hospital as a reliable partner in healthcare development.

Three areas of focus

For its first year, the club will adopt a preventive approach to healthcare, with its activities centred on three major areas.

The first is “Healing Beyond the Walls,” through which the club plans to expand free medical camps, health screenings and treatment services to vulnerable communities outside the hospital.

The second is “Caring for the Caregivers,” focusing on the social and mental wellbeing of healthcare workers. The programme will include welfare initiatives, mental health support and skills development for clinical staff.

Among the planned initiatives is the “Tondeka e Dubai” programme, aimed at supporting healthcare workers through exposure and welfare activities.

The third area will focus on partnerships, with the club seeking to connect Mengo Hospital to Rotary’s international network to mobilise support for healthcare infrastructure and improved patient care.

Hope Ward flagship project

The club’s long-term flagship initiative will be the establishment of a Hope Ward at Mengo Hospital, which will provide dignified and potentially life-saving care to vulnerable patients who are unable to afford treatment.

The project is expected to become a major expression of the club’s commitment to making healthcare more accessible to disadvantaged communities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Rotary District 9214 Governor for 2026/2027, Daniel Mukasa Ddamulira, commended the club’s leadership and charter members for choosing to serve through their professional expertise.

“Serving humanity and preserving human dignity is a complete privilege. Your acceptance to serve is highly appreciated and celebrated,” Ddamulira said.

He urged the members to focus on creating measurable and lasting impact within their communities.

“Engaging each one for impact while creating lasting impact is the clarion call to action this year,” he said.

‘Medical Pioneers’ carries a responsibility

Immediate Past District Governor Christine Kyeyune Kawooya, who served as District Governor for 2025/2026, said the name Medical Pioneers should inspire the club to lead and innovate in addressing healthcare challenges.

“The name ‘Medical Pioneers’ carries both an identity and a responsibility. It speaks of people willing to lead, innovate and use their professional knowledge, experience and compassion to improve the lives of others,” she said.

Kawooya described the charter as more than a formal recognition of the club, saying it represents an invitation to turn professional expertise into sustainable community impact.

The Rotary Club of Medical Pioneers Mengo was established with guidance from its sponsor clubs, the Rotary Club of Mengo and the Rotary Club of Kigo Seven Lakes Golf.

The new club operates as an institutional Rotary club within Mengo Hospital, combining the expertise of healthcare professionals with Rotary International’s global mission of service.

Through its programmes, the club intends to take healthcare services closer to communities while promoting compassionate care, healthcare worker wellbeing and strategic partnerships aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery in Uganda.