SMACK cautions arrogant parents

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Teenagers, whoever they are and wherever they are, have naughty traits in them. This explains why there are some naughty students in many secondary schools. St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK), one of the schools of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, is not an exception.

In spite of its 120-year undisputed record of unwavering commitment to ethical values, the school has some students who failed to assimilate its ethos of propriety and respect for others.

As expected, the authorities at the school have always moved in very swiftly to correct and rehabilitate any errant student. Unfortunately, the school is concurrently having the big challenge with some errant parents, who are frustrating the school’s culture of ethical conduct and discipline.

Instead of cooperating with the school administration to enforce discipline, they protest and sometimes even confront the teachers who try to instil values in their sons.

The errant parents and the threat they have caused became the subject of discussion during the school’s Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) Annual General Meeting, which took place at the school at Kisubi, on Entebbe Road, in Wakiso district on Sunday, July 26 (2026).

SMACK's PTA Chairman, the Hon, Justice John Mike Musisi, during the meeting at the school on Sunday, July 26, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The school’s PTA and Disciplinary Committee Chair, the Hon. Justice John Mike Musisi, sounded even more perplexed as he told the story of one parent who did the incredible when he opted to go to the school with three Land Rovers full of military policemen, to look for a student who had had a confrontation with his son!

Justice Musisi was more furious as he blamed another parent who dragged the headteacher and his deputy to the Police in Entebbe. People looked even more stunned when Justice Musisi told them that the deputy headmaster had spent months moving on Police bond, while the headteacher himself had also been spending much time at the Police in Entebbe over the same issue!

The challenge of errant parents was highlighted with even deeper concern by the headteacher, Bro. Simeon Simon Mpanga, who stunned the assembly even more as he narrated how one parent shouted at him, threatening to shoot him. He also cited another parent, a mother, who despised him, saying: “You poor people have one problem, you don't understand what we tell you."

Mpanga also cited another parent who tried to bribe him so that he could retain a student he had dismissed over some gross misconduct. The parent said to Mpanga: “Tell me any amount of money you want, I give it to you and you let my son stay.” Mpanga also spoke about some parents who want everything to go their way just because they are old boys of the school.

He said the errant parents, whom he painfully referred to as “uncultured/uncivilized,” had put the administration under high tension and also threatened the school’s established disciplinary mechanism. He later sent them this warning and advice.

“Whatever I do, I am just fulfilling the vision and mission of this school. And I am not driven by money. Nobody should call us poor because we are also rich in our own way. Actually, ours is the richest generation. So, let us be humble. Let’s have that spirit of humility and understanding.

“You keep billions of monies, actually taxpayers’ money on your bank accounts, and you come and boast with us. Please keep your money because you are not the first to have money. Today you have the money, tomorrow you will not have it. If you are a great man, come and help us to run this institution instead of putting it down."

“You give the boys much money and all sorts of things! Some of the boys have told us openly they are here to pass time awaiting to go to Canada, or to go for training. Why do you bring us students who will torment us? Please don’t make the boys undisciplined. The same guns you give your children to torment other people’s children are the same guns they will use to torture you. Please wake up. Come, and we discipline the boys together. Teach the boys to be kind, to respect others, to obey the rules and regulations of the school,” said Mpanga.

Bro. Mpanga nonetheless ended his address on a tuneful note, assuring all the stakeholders that the school had the best disciplined students. He said that out of 500 students, only 10 were somehow naughty, and they too could be put right if the parents worked harmoniously with the administration.

Mpanga reaffirmed the school’s commitment to academic excellence and discipline, stressing that vices such as bullying and drug abuse would never be accepted in the school.

The remarks of Justice Mike Musisi and Bro. Simeon Simon Mpanga nonetheless provoked strong reactions from the audience.

Sarah Kagingo, a parent, sounded even more emotional as she apologised to the school for the misdeeds of some of her fellow parents. She called for a renewed commitment to responsible parenthood, saying parents should instill the Christian-moral values in their children when they are still young.

Sarah Kagingo delivers her apologetic remarks on behalf of the parents. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Robert Mujabi, an alumnus and member of the executive committee of the school’s Old Boys Association (SMACKOBA), asked the administrators at SMACK not to suffer in silence but to inform them accordingly whenever they are being harassed by those who have the power, because they too know some equally powerful people.

One parent, who identified himself as an Air Force officer, also apologised to the school for the misdeeds of some of his fellow men in uniform.

The PTA Vice-Chair, Dr Medard Bitekyerezo, also sent a stern warning to the disrespectful parents.

SMACK's PTA Vice-Chair Dr Medard Bitekyerezo also sent a stern warning to disrespectful parents. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

Provincial Superior Reacts

The Provincial Superior of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, Bro. Casio Aizire expressed dismay at the harassment of his confreres and other teachers at SMACK and called upon the errant parents to repent.

He argued that Bro. Mpanga was taking care of close to 3,000 young men, a very huge responsibility and service to the country, which was why he should not be stressed by anybody.

“Having your son here at SMACK is a huge blessing, which many people desire but did not get or will never get.  This school produces very useful people: engineers, political leaders, religious leaders, lawyers, architects, economists. Actually, during the time of admissions, my office down there is like another school. Many people come seeking my signature for their sons to be given a vacancy. So, if you got the chance, please don’t waste it. Maximise it,” said Aizire.

Bro. Aizire thanked Bro. Mpanga for his infrastructure development initiatives, which he said would enhance the learning environment at the school, further to addressing the challenge of the sharp increment in the number of students.

He also thanked him for developing the school’s new campus at Kabojja.

The Provincial Superior of the Brothers of Christian Instruction, Bro. Casio Aizire (third-left, front row) shares a photo moment with members of the executive of the Parents and Teachers Association of St. Mary's College Kisubi (SMACK) after the general meeting at the school on Entebbe Road, Wakiso District on Sunday, July 26, 2026. (Photo by Mathias Mazinga)

The function, during which the school also commemorated its 120^th anniversary, started with a thanksgiving mass presided over by the parish priest of Mpigi, Fr. Deogratias Kiibi, who asked the students of SMACK to focus on their clear objectives and also to pursue them with total dedication and determination, to become successful in life.

During the same function, the students who performed exceptionally well in last year’s UNEB exams were appreciated with cash rewards.

The parents and stakeholders of the school also toured the infrastructure and academic development projects at the school.