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The alumni of Namasagali College in Kamuli district on Monday launched their second generation dubbed “Generation Zi,” to foster accelerated academic excellence, skills and talents development.

Backed by their College Motto, “Strive regardless,” the entourage which joined the College after Fr. Demian Grimes’ retirement (2000-2018) used the homecoming to launch “Generation Zi.”

Generation Zi joins the existing Namasagali College Alumni Association (NCAA), which is running several projects to rejuvenate the mighty College five years now.

Amid cheers and excitement, the G-zi cohort arrived with a bang, featuring youthful born roughly between the mid-1990s and the early 2010s.

The objective of the homecoming, according to Paul Muhwezi, the “G- Zi” Chairperson, was to recognize the immense potential and unique perspectives, with intent to engage and involve the new dynamic group in alumni activities.

"We have come to embrace the spirit of our alma mater. We needed to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations of alumni," Muhwezi, a Statistics specialist at Makerere University, said.

The “G zi” came reloaded with a package of tangible and academic material including literature books authored by renowned Vision Group’s publications’ author, poet and Best Farmer (value addition 2022), William Kayongo Mutumba, aka Mr. Pumpkin, who attended the event.

Mutumba presented a thrilling lecture on literature, skills development, academics and poetry, before donating his books to the students to instill and promote reading and writing culture.      

Among the books included Moments in my Mind, The Hare and the leopard (Children’s Book), Bradin the Grandma etc,....

The arrival of Artiste Dan Lubwama Kigozi aka Navio, excited the hosts before he treated them to Hip Hop music with the popular hit, ”Njogereza njogereza, njogereza akawala nkeegombye...,” forcing the hosts to join him in the prolonged, agitated dance amid deafening cheers.

Navio freely interacted with the students. (Credit: Tom Gwebayanga)

The College is known to have mentored well positioned and prominent figures in Uganda including: First Deputy Premier and Minister for East African Affairs, Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, Prof.  Mulengani an architecture specialist, the former Vision Group CEO, Robert Kabushenga, MTN’s Patrick Bitature, MUBS Principal, Prof Wasswa Balunywa, Uganda’s Ambassador to Russia, Moses Kizige, former Agriculture Minister, Aggrey Henry Bagiire, and former Plan -Uganda Manager, Gerald Simon Menyha.

Celebrated singers include Juliana Kanyomozi, Rachel Magoola of Obbangaina fame, Navio among others.  

Mutumba presented a thrilling lecture on literature, skills development, academics and poetry, before he donated his authored books to instill and promote reading and writing culture.       

Among the books Mutumba authored include Moments in my Mind, The Hare and the leopard (Children’s Book), Bradin the Grandma etc, the copies of which he distributed to the jostling students.

Gist of Generation Zi

Maureen Mwagale, the founder of the Namasagali College Alumni Association, said that the objective of forming Generation Zi is to truly embrace the spirit of our alma mater, the old students needed to bridge the gap between the older and younger generations of alumni.

“That's why we embarked on a mission to actively involve Generation Zi in our initiatives" Mwagale, who works in the United Kingdom (UK), said.

The culmination of this effort was the Sunday homecoming led by Julius Muhwezi and his peers, marking a significant milestone in the reunion history of the mighty College.

Muhwezi explained that G-Zi brings a wealth of skills, perspectives, and values to the college community. It’s tech-saviness, entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, global perspective, and commitment aims at diversifying inclusion and lasting impact on campus life.

Artiste Navio lectured on talent building like music, dance drama etc. , urging  that students need to build them right from tender through teen ages. He added that talents should go alongside reading hard and attaining academic credentials, now that we’re living in a digital, global world.

The Headmistress, Prossy Namuganza, lauded the alumni for loving their school and giving back to enable their counterparts and the school to attain a better future.

Complimenting the college’s master plan

Generation Zi has joined the bigger alumni (Namasagali College Alumni Association NCAA) which designed and launched the School’s Master Plan in 2018.

The Master Plan was unveiled to revamp the school whose fame hit the rocks following Fr. Grimes’ exit.

Designed by the then Namasagali Old Students’ Association (NOSA) Executive, which was later, named Namasagali College Alumni Association (NCAA), the Master Plan kick-started with fundraising for the school revamping by demolishing the dilapidated structures to construct a modern sh.3.8b storied complex.

Building the capacity of the current staff through trainings and refresher workshops was part of the project.