Seven projects and UGX 380 million in Year One. Now the goal is every Rotary and Rotaract club in the country.
KAMPALA, 27 October 2026
Rotary in Uganda and Davis & Shirtliff Uganda today renewed their Memorandum of Understanding on Water and Energy Solutions, building on a first year that has been widely described as a model of how Rotary and the corporate sector can work together.
The renewal comes at a moment of real momentum. What began as a pilot collaboration has already brought clean water, reliable power and light to schools and hospitals across Uganda. With the new agreement, both partners are setting their sights much higher: putting these solutions within reach of every one of the more than 235 Rotary and Rotaract clubs in Uganda.
A First Year That Delivered
In just twelve months, the partnership implemented more than seven major projects worth over UGX 380 million in schools and hospitals across Uganda. The work centred on three areas where the need is greatest and the impact most visible:
- Solar lighting systems, keeping classrooms, wards and health facilities lit after dark
- Solar water pumping systems, bringing a dependable water supply without the burden of fuel or grid costs
- Water treatment and purification systems, giving learners, patients and staff access to safe drinking water
One of the standout examples is the solar lighting project at Butoolo Health Facility, now held up by both partners as a template for future joint work.
The results have not gone unnoticed. More than 20 Rotary and Rotaract clubs have already expressed interest in taking part, a clear sign of the appetite among clubs for practical, sustainable solutions in their communities. Yet with over 235 clubs nationwide, the partnership has so far only scratched the surface. If seven projects could deliver UGX 380 million worth of impact in one year, the potential of a fully engaged Rotary family is considerable.
What the Renewed MoU Brings
The renewed agreement is designed to give clubs greater clarity and to make the partnership easier to use at scale. It rests on four pillars:
- A focused mandate. The MoU concentrates on supporting schools, hospitals and communities with solar pumping, solar lighting, and water treatment and purification systems.
- A 60-40 cost-sharing model. The renewal proposes a 60-40 split of project costs, keeping projects affordable and accessible for clubs of every size.
- Countrywide support. Every Davis & Shirtliff branch in Uganda will be notified of the partnership, so any Rotary or Rotaract club can walk into its nearest branch and receive guidance.
- End-to-end technical support. Davis & Shirtliff will continue to handle feasibility assessments, quotations, installation and maintenance. This full-cycle support was one of the key reasons for the success of Year One, and it means clubs do not need in-house engineering expertise to deliver a lasting project.
Deepening the Collaboration
Beyond the projects themselves, the two organisations have committed to building a closer, longer-term relationship. They have agreed to:
- Joint publicity and co-branding of partnership projects
- Vocational visits for Rotarians to Davis & Shirtliff facilities, in the true spirit of Rotary's Vocational Service
- Joint participation in projects, following the example set at Butoolo Health Facility
Davis & Shirtliff has also been formally invited to the District 9213 Project Fair at the District Conference in Gulu, where it will showcase the partnership's results and meet clubs directly.
In a further sign of how seriously both sides take the relationship, the District will explore chartering a Rotary Club within Davis & Shirtliff Uganda. Such a club would serve as a centre of coordination for the partnership and bring the company's own people into the Rotary family.
A Call to District 9214 Clubs
Year One has shown what is possible. Year Two is the opportunity for every club in District 9214 to turn that possibility into projects in its own community. Whether your club is supporting a rural school without safe water, a health centre working in the dark, or a community relying on a distant borehole, this partnership offers a proven route from idea to installation.
How to get started: Send new project requests to ugenquiries@dayliff.com, with a copy to richardkalungi41@gmail.com, working with guidance from your respective Rotary leaders. Davis & Shirtliff will take it from there, from the feasibility assessment and quotation through to installation and maintenance.
Clean water and clean energy sit at the heart of Rotary's areas of focus. With this renewed partnership, Rotarians and Rotaractors across Uganda have one more powerful tool to make lasting change happen.