BUKOTO: YOU KNOW YOU WANT THIS!!!!!

Beverley Namboze Nsengiyunva ,Bukoto Toastmasters Founding President

Some foundations are borne from soggy and unsightly cement; layered between brick upon brick. These foundations, often strong, are built to create a formidable building that can weather harsh storms and intruders. Bukoto Toastmasters Club was borne from a vision of a diverse leadership future and buckets upon buckets of tears. In 2016, after joining Kampala Toastmasters, I represented the club in the Best of Toastmasters East Africa competition, which was held in Nairobi. The Uganda delegation that traveled with me were buoyant and jittery; great combination as a show of support.

While in Nairobi, I witnessed some of the most risqué, unforgettable and confident speakers I had ever met. Alongside this, we were surrounded by bountiful members of Toastmasters from the region. Kenya was overflowing with dozens of clubs and Rwanda too, boasted of a handful. Why was Uganda only represented by one club, then? Having begun in 2014, I knew it was time for Uganda’s only club, Kampala Toastmasters, full of vibrancy and potential, to start a new one. Returning to Kampala with my semi-finalist badge of honor from the highly competitive contest, I pondered over the twelve hour bus journey back home, about how to start a new club.

It was clear to me that there was need for another club. First of all, to accommodate the growing number of guests at Kampala Toastmasters but also to challenge ourselves to reach a higher potential and invest in other professionals through public speaking and leadership. That is how Bukoto Toastmasters Club was conceived. We often received comments from guests at Kampala Toastmasters Club, that there were a high number of interested members living in the Bukoto area. Following the advice from several leaders in the region, I knew that I had to identify a leadership team, a location for the new club and also drive the purpose eloquently and consistently. Connie Nshemereirwe, the only Advanced speaker in Uganda at the time, was my easy first pick. On explaining to her the importance of a new club as a sign of growth, as a new challenge to raise our potential and to also serve a new community of professionals, she agreed and joined as the Vice President of Education. Had I known that there were months of anguish and tears ahead from starting a new club, I would probably have let go and settled for the status quo. I’m not a status quo kind of woman, though and neither is Connie, so onward we went.

Alliance Françise offices, was our first venue of choice and before long, we called for our first meeting on November 1, 2016. Our initial executive committee was filled with friends and associates. Presiding over as the Founding President was daunting. I recall being handed the gavel and my first words: “Welcome to Bukoto Toastmasters Club’s first meeting.” Imagine that! I must have slammed the gavel on my thumb but I was numbed to the throbbing pain. There were over fifteen pairs of eyes following my every step. Over fifteen sets of ears listening to my every word; some of them waiting for a mishap so that they could say, “I told you so.” Sweaty palms and shaky voice aside, the meeting was filled with 90% of Kampala Toastmasters Club members. The overwhelming flight of stairs to the venue meeting place did not deter them from celebrating with us. They were our sponsors. A new club. It was worthwhile and they saw a magnificent future in it.

The meeting was unblemished. My Competent Communicator Project 6 entitled: Viva la Mexico, was amongst the speeches, alongside Irene Naikaali’s speech on leadership. It was pertinent that I won first prize. It gave the necessary boost of morale to this new venture. That however, was, the easy part.

I cannot recall how many times Connie and I had to shuffle the Executive Committee. Some of the initial members remained clueless even after six months of duty, leaving us to commit to the bulk of this unappreciated role. And then, despite our relentless advertising and near begging to the public to become a part of the membership, it was not until a year after, that we finally chartered to become a recognized club under the number 06633885. My WhatsApp was my place of fortitude. I remember sending daily messages to each guest, to relatives and acquaintances about this new public speaking and leadership space that was opening. And that as the Founding President, it would be a club like no other. For a minimal fee, their lives would change forever, their marriages would improve and their work places would become more fun that they had ever been. It was all about pulling tricks out of a hat and we finally received the numbers necessary to charter our club. Before that though, was the grueling process of chartering. With a copious amount of paper work, sifting through membership forms, bank registration forms and a new constitution, my head became giddy with the enormity of the chore.

It was on a Sunday afternoon, when I sent a boda-boda transport man to assist with completing this lofty chore. He was one of the convenient transport messengers I used to deliver documents for my work, when I was in need of a timely service. I called the boda-boda man, who arrived promptly on his motorbike at my home. I placed into his hands a large envelope with the Toastmasters Constitution and a dozen other forms for the Executive Committee to sign. He dutifully visited every home of each committee member, made them sign the documents and returned each form to me, meticulously. The Monday after that memorable Sunday, Bukoto Toastmasters was officially chartered with our number, 06633885. The victory didn’t end there. Patrick Bitature, on hearing of this new club, offered us a free venue at his new plush hotel, Skyz Hotel, just in the Bukoto/Naguru area. To say that the tears were worth it, is an understatement.

Would I do it again? Well, out of that revitalized energy, I also began the process of Ntinda Toastmasters Cub, a new club being sponsored by Bukoto. Ntinda meets every second Thursday at Eureka Place and are well on their way to chartering.

Bukoto’s birth story never gets old. I’m honoured to be associated with the steadfast team of this club of impeccable standards. In April this year, I was elected to the position of Public Relations Manager of the entire East Africa Council of Toastmasters. This was only possible because of Bukoto. Thank you! Wanyala! Gracias!

Beverley Nambozo Nsengiyunva CC, CL

Founding President of Bukoto Toastmasters Club

Public Relations Manager, Territorial Council 114