Students contribute sh10m to church projects

By Eddie Ssejjoba 

Students of St. Mary's Secondary School, Kitende have contributed sh10m to support the community and church projects of Katimba Parish in Ssembabule district.

The money, raised by individual students and teachers, will go into uplifting the standards of the communities in Ssembabule.

The school director, Lawrence Mulindwa handed over the contribution in cash to Katimba Parish priest, Rev. Fr. Michael Ssenfuma during the 14^th school anniversary celebrations on the weekend.
 

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The school celebrated its 14^th anniversary last Saturday. PHOTO/Eddie Ssejjoba

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Students donated a gift to their school boss. PHOTO/Eddie Ssejjoba

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Rev. Fr. Michael Ssenfuma donated a portrait of the Virgin Mary to Mulindwa. PHOTO/Eddie Ssejjoba

Mulindwa, pledging to continue supporting the communities in the district, said the students made the donation in appreciation of Fr. Ssenfuma’s contribution towards their spiritual and academic growth during the time he was a youth chaplain for Masaka diocese.

Fr. Ssenfuma said he needed sh57m to buy church pews after the number of church goers increased dramatically since the time he was posted at the parish.

He also intends to introduce a number of development projects to the communities including coffee nurseries to revive massive coffee growing in the area.

“As a result of your continued support to my pastoral work, there is a lot of excitement and the number of Christians who turn up for the Tuesday mass alone has gone beyond 1,500,” he told the congregation of students.

Fr. Ssenfuma has been visiting the school and praying for students especially candidates to excel in their exams.
 

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School director Lawrence Mulindwa handed over a gift to Kimala Sarah, a former student who passed with a first class degree at Makerere University. PHOTO/Eddie Ssejjoba

Meanwhile, Mulindwa said that apart from imparting knowledge to students, his school has transformed the communities who have benefited from the electricity, clean water, security and a tarmac road extended in the area.

He said that for the last 14 years since the school opened in the area, many residents have got jobs and money from sell of plots of land and other goods.

“There is no better achievement than helping to transform people. Students, both local and foreign, have attained education here and are now professionals. We have also benefited the communities around us and touched many lives,” he said.

The school boss also handed over an order of merit prize and sh1m cash to Sarah Kimala, a former student who emerged the best graduate at this year’s Makerere University graduation with a first class degree, scoring a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.88.
 

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The new prefects (student leaders) were sworn in on the same day. PHOTO/Eddie Ssejjoba

Mulindwa said he had decided to offer a job to Kimala who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Information Systems  and said many former students who had exceled at the university had been called back to teach.

“Our mission is to touch and transform lives of many. This is why we invested in a sector that develops people. Both Ugandans and foreigners have benefited and we get satisfied when everyone is rejoicing,” he said.

The school also marked their saint’s day (Saint Mary) during which the new student leadership (prefects) body was sworn in.