St Charles Lwanga Senior Secondary School in Mubende District has set its sights on becoming self-reliant by its 50th anniversary, as the institution marked 40 years of providing education and vocational skills.
The Bishop of Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese, Joseph Anthony Zziwa, challenged the school to strengthen its academic, religious and vocational programmes while developing income-generating activities to support its operations.
“I want by the time we reach 50 years to be self-reliant as the school,” Bishop Zziwa said during the ruby jubilee celebrations.
The school, founded in 1986 through the initiative of Rev Fr Richard Ritz, then parish priest of Mubende Parish, started on the premises of the parish headquarters as the first Catholic-founded senior secondary school in the parish.
Bishop Zziwa commended successive leaders, staff, students, parents and other stakeholders for contributing to the institution’s growth in enrolment, academic performance, discipline, religious formation and vocational training.
He said the diocese had prioritised practical skills as part of efforts to prepare young people for self-reliance, citing a dairy farming programme being implemented in Catholic-founded schools.
St Charles Lwanga is among the first beneficiaries, with students gaining practical farming and financial literacy skills through the project.
“Our children have been equipped with skills in farming. On Easter Day, the meat that was served was out of their hard work. They picked one bull from their project,” Bishop Zziwa said.
He said 20 schools had received cows under the programme, with some already producing milk for sale.
The bishop said the project teaches students not only farming but also business skills as they generate income from milk sales.
As part of its drive towards self-reliance, the school is completing a three-storey building that will house administration offices, a dining hall and a main hall.
The school plans to hire out the facilities for meetings and other events during holidays to generate additional income.
Bishop Zziwa called on Catholic leaders, former students and other stakeholders to support the school by using the facilities for their meetings and functions when students are away.
Keeping the vision alive
Lands Minister Judith Nabakooba, who represented the acting Minister of Education and Sports, John Chrysostom Muyingo, commended the school’s founders and successive leaders for preserving its original mission.
She said Rev Fr Ritz established the school out of a desire to strengthen Christianity in the community through education.
“He realised that Christianity needed to be strengthened, and therefore started the school on a religious foundation, with the aim that when it educates a child, it produces a complete and well-rounded person,” Ms Nabakooba said.
She thanked Bishop Zziwa, the Mubende Catholic administration, the family that donated the land, former students and other contributors for supporting the institution’s development.
Nabakooba said the school had produced many people who are making significant contributions to the country and urged former students to continue supporting it.
“As we celebrate today, we are on a journey towards celebrating 50 years and 100 years. Let’s keep on track and realise our set dreams,” she said.
She also encouraged parents to continue enrolling their children at the school and urged local leaders to mobilise households to participate in government poverty-alleviation programmes to improve their incomes.
30 years at the helm
The school’s head teacher, Ms Grace Lwanga, who has served the institution for 30 years, thanked Kiyinda-Mityana Diocese for entrusting her with its leadership.
“They have believed in me for this long. I thank them for the encouragement and support that has given me courage to manoeuvre through the storms that come along the way,” she said.
Ms Lwanga said her tenure had focused on nurturing young minds, fostering dreams and preparing learners for the future.
She said the school’s achievements went beyond academics, with students excelling in sports, debates, public speaking, essay writing, music, poetry and storytelling.
She added that the institution had won several regional and national accolades in co-curricular activities, helping learners develop their talents and critical-thinking skills.
Bishop Zziwa also praised the school’s leadership for nurturing God-fearing learners, citing the students’ choir performance during the jubilee Mass as evidence of the institution’s commitment to producing well-rounded students.
