Namilyango College marks 110 years of existence

By   Nicholas Kajoba   

CARDINAL Emmanuel Wamala has hailed the founders of the Catholics schools in the country saying that they helped a lot in imparting good morals and skills in the young generations.

Wamala was speaking during the celebrations to mark 110 years of existence of Namilyango College on Saturday, March, 24, 2012.

Namilyango College, the oldest Secondary School in Uganda, was founded on the 23rd March 1902, by the Mill Hill Missionaries.  Bishop Hanlon the first Mill Hill Bishop in Uganda, started what was later to become Namilyango College, with a-fold purpose:  To train catechists needed for evangelization. 

The school opened with ten boys, all excelling in piety and intelligence, selected from various missions.  A start was made with sons of Chiefs, the Chiefs themselves being asked to defray the expenses of the boys’ education.

Wamala said that most of the re -known professionals in the country attained there education at the college, emphasize that this enabled them to have firm religious background.

 “The school emphases on religious teaching and good morals have shaped many young people to become good future leaders of this country. Many of them are working in big offices in the country and still they uphold the good skills they acquired from the school, “he said.

During the same function Cardinal Wamala and Ssekamanya planted a tree at the dining hall and launched a cooperative savings scheme for the Namilyango College Old boys Association (NACOBA) of the school.

The scheme would enable members to save and borrow at a subsidized interest percentage. The proceeds from the savings scheme would go to school and the church. The Old boys also donated Sh60m towards the re-roofing of the schools hall and extension of the sickbay.

The best performing teachers and students during last year’s Ordinary level and advanced level examinations where recognized.  The headmaster, Gerald Muguluma said that they emphasize religion and discipline in order to bring up responsible people in future.

He attributed the good performance of the school for the past few years for combined efforts of teachers, students and administrators of the school.

 “The college has tremendously done lot to contribute to the education sector of this country. Many old boys who have done lot to the country have turned up to celebrate with us together this anniversary, “Muguluma said.

He said that the school plans to put more structures in order to accommodate  the increased population school number. He said that most of the schools structures are dilapidated and need urgent repair.   

The Vicar General also board chairman of the school, Msgr. Richard Kayondo hailed the old boys for contributing generously towards the improvement of the school. He said that the schools mission and vision is to impart formal and informal knowledge among the students so that they become good leaders.

He lamented some proprietors of the schools who commercialized the education sector making it source of revenue. “Some of the schools that are started do not necessary emphasize core values of religion and good morals.

The proprietors invest in the sector to realize revenue not necessary imparting good moral skills in the young ones,” Kayondo said. Some of the past head-teachers of the college to-date included:            

Francis Mayanja(1972 – 1973), Alfred Mugoda(1973 – 1986), Dr. Peregrine Kibuuka
(1986 – 2002) and Gerald Muguluma(2002 - To date).