Rotary Uganda Zone Institute is rescheduled to November 26-28 after Ebola-related travel uncertainty, with more than 1,000 delegates already registered
Rotary Zone Institute Convenor RID Emmanuel Katongole, Co-Convenor and Past Trustee Geeta Manek, the Host Organising Committee and Rotary International President Olayinka H.
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Babalola have rescheduled the Rotary Uganda Zone Institute to November 26-28, 2026, following travel uncertainties linked to Uganda’s recent Ebola outbreak.
The decision, announced ahead of the planned gathering in Uganda, was described by organisers as difficult but necessary to give international delegates greater certainty and allow participants to attend with confidence.
The Governor-Elects and Governor-Nominee Learning Seminar will now take place from November 24 to 25, ahead of the main institute.
The organisers said the rescheduling was prompted by concerns among delegates from some countries over travel restrictions and possible quarantine requirements upon their return, even though Uganda has now officially been declared free of Ebola.
Uganda’s Ministry of Health declared the end of the 2026 Ebola outbreak on July 28 after the country completed the World Health Organisation’s required 42-day monitoring period without detecting new cases.
The outbreak recorded 20 confirmed cases and two deaths, with authorities maintaining intensive surveillance throughout the monitoring period.
The WHO had earlier classified the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo as a public health emergency of international concern, underscoring the seriousness of the regional health situation at the time.
Against that backdrop, the organisers said the decision to move the Rotary Uganda Zone Institute was taken primarily to restore travel confidence and provide delegates with adequate time to make arrangements.
More than 1,000 delegates have already registered for the event, according to the organisers, who said all existing registrations and hotel bookings would automatically be transferred to the new dates.
With Uganda now Ebola-free, prospective participants who have not yet registered have been invited to do so by September 30, 2026, at the current registration rate.
The rescheduling is expected to give Rotary members, leaders and guests more time to prepare for what organisers describe as an important opportunity for learning, fellowship, networking and the exchange of ideas across the region.
The event also carries added significance under Babalola’s leadership. Babalola, a Nigerian member of the Rotary Club of Trans Amadi, became Rotary International president on July 1, 2026, becoming only the second African and second Nigerian to lead the global organisation.
His presidential focus includes peacebuilding and sustainable, community-led solutions to improve lives.
For the organisers, the revised schedule is intended to preserve the spirit of the gathering while ensuring that health and travel concerns do not overshadow the experience for participants.
“We look forward to welcoming you to Uganda this November for an unforgettable Zone Institute,” the organisers said.
They added that the gathering would provide an inspiring programme built around learning, fellowship, networking and shared experiences, with the broader goal of strengthening Rotary’s impact and encouraging service across communities.
The organisers also urged members to embrace the spirit behind the event’s message: “Let us all rise with a rising Africa as we grow to serve.”
The November gathering is therefore expected to be more than a routine leadership meeting.
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With the immediate health concerns that prompted the postponement now eased, the event is set to bring together more than 1,000 participants for a potentially powerful celebration of Rotary’s service, collaboration and shared commitment to community development.
Victory Emmanuel is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, business, and public affairs.
