By Ambrose Gahene
Lions Club, District 411B in Partnership with Lions International Concluded a “New Voices” symposium 2026, held in Masaka City from 20-21 March 2026. The Symposium attracted women and youth in Humanitarian service and ran under the theme: “Transformational Leadership: Amplifying Women and Youth Voices for Humanitarian Service”.
Lion Prof. Mercy Mirembe Ntangare, Associate Professor of Drama, Makerere University, the Family and Woman Specialist and the “New Voices” Coordinator, for Lions Club Uganda District 411B organized the symposium in which Lions International injected a grant of US$ 2,000.
The “New Voices” Symposium 2026 was followed by several activities, namely, a Radio Talk Show on 19 March 2026 at 7.00 p.m. on 102.7 FM “Ewooma” Radio 8 Masaka, under the topic “Strategic Impact of Women and Youth in Humanitarian Service”.
This was followed by panel discussions comprising; Lion Cathy Aloyo, the Zone five Chairperson from the Organizing Team in Masaka; and Lion Doreen Arinaitwe, member of the Organizing Committee; and Ms. Grace Namara, Family and Children Protection Officer of the Uganda Police Force, Masaka City.
According to Prof. Mercy Mirembe, on 20 March, there were two service activities, organized by the New Voices team and hosting Lions clubs in the area, namely, Lions Club of Masaka City, Lions Club of Masaka, and Lions Club of Masaka Greater.
“The activities were purposely selected to ensure safety of children and youth in homes, on the roads, at school, and in the communities they stay”, she said.
She said the activities were carried out under the theme; “New Voices Amplifying Service”.
“Women Lions, Leos, and the teachers’ amplified Lions service areas of Youth (Empowerment and Children Education), Hunger, Environment, and general humanitarian service”, she added.
According to Lion Mercy, The Lions started with a ‘Personal Safety and Welfare Talk’ at Blessed Sacrament Secondary School Kimanya, Masaka, where students from from Senior One to Senior Six and their teachers were involved.
During the symposium, various speakers delivered speeches. Assistant Commissioner of Police, Lion Canon Dr. Barabra Alungat, the Deputy Commandant at Bwebajja Police Training College, lectured on the topic: “Women and Youth Leading with Care and Courage of the Safety of All”.
Lion Eng. Hangson Niwamanya, the Director of ZYIAR Engineering Solutions Ltd., gave the second lecture on ‘Mentorship and Career Guidance’ under the topic “Building Confidence, Influence, and Authority for Humanitarian Service”, in which approximately 2,500 students and members of Lions Club attended.
In addition, Lions donated and planted two fruit trees (soursop and mango) in the school compound. The two trees are widely known for their sustained fruiting and medicinal properties. Five copies each of two book titles for youth written by Prof. Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare worth US$ 35 (UGX 125,000) were also donated to the school library.
On the same day, the Lions team proceeded to the Lions Primary School with a Reading Action Program (RAP), involving pupils and teachers.
Pupils from Primary One to Primary Sven participated with a Reading and Spelling Contest, drama performances, songs, dances, poetry, drawing and games.
The Lions made a donation of reading and scholastic materials worth US$ 280 (UGX 1,008,000) and children’s books written by Lion Prof. Mercy Mirembe Ntangaare.
These were 30 copies each of four titles for Primary One to Primary Five worth US$220 (UGX 800,000). The Lions also served a meal and ate with the pupils and teachers at the school.
The day was wound up with activities intended to promote networking and personal sharing at the fellowship and dinner and Kasiki at Club Ambience, Masaka City.
On 21 March 2026, the “New Voices” Symposium 2026 entered its second day with a welcome session, where the First vice District Governor 411B, Lion John Paddy Kikanu Byarugaba, addressed the session.
Lion Byarugaba emphasized the unmistakable role women and youth play in humanitarian service and called upon them to consolidate this position for the sustainability of Lions clubs.
Lion Charity Atwiine, from the District Leadership Committee, spoke on the topic: “Transformational Leadership: Tapping into Women and Youth Potential”.
Lion Chairty also doubles as the Executive Director of Human Virtue Initiative Uganda that builds healthy and fulfilled lives through advocacy.
Also speaking on day two was Ms. Grace Namara, the Family and Children Protection Officer in the Police Family Unit at Masaka. She spoke against child abuse, which is increasingly gaining momentum in Masaka and the mid-western Uganda.
This was followed by sessions geared at empowering participants through a panel and round table discussion; of storytelling and sharing of personal experiences. In the same session there was a 10-minute commemoration of the World Down Syndrome Day, with blowing and hanging of Blue and Yellow coloured balloons.
Since its founding in 1917, the Association of Lions Clubs, or Lions International, has attracted a broad spectrum of members from different socio-cultural and professional backgrounds.
Lions International exists in over 210 countries and geographical areas of the world. Its membership currently stands at 1.4 million. However, Lions International has largely been recruiting from ‘conventional’ professions like bankers, lawyers, engineers or salaried people in public service. Arguably, these are the ‘stable’ voices, often with regular sources of income, hence able to pay their subscriptions without a hassle.
The events in Masaka focused on amplifying service for the safety of children and youth in Uganda, and in particular Masaka City