Parents urged to shield candidates from emotional distractions
“Parents should encourage their children. Do not bring stories from home that will emotionally disturb them at this critical time. Let them concentrate,” Kasibante said.
Msgr. Charles Kasibante, the Kampala Archdiocese Vicar General emeritus, blessing Senior Four candidates of St. Cyprian High School Kyabakadde in Mukono. (Photos by Henry Nsubuga)
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Monsignor Charles Kasibante, the vicar general emeritus of the Kampala Archdiocese, has urged parents and guardians to support candidates as they prepare for their final Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB) papers, while cautioning them against exposing learners to issues that could emotionally destabilise them during this critical period.
Kasibante said that for the remaining time to the final exams, parents should visit their children in candidate classes and ensure they meet all school requirements on time so that the learners are not distracted during their final preparations for the UNEB papers.
He made the remarks while dedicating Senior Four and Senior Six candidates of St Cyprian High School Kyabakadde in Kyampisi subcounty, Mukono district. The St. Cyprian Day celebrations were held on October 3, 2026, under the theme: “Excellence Through Discipline and Diligence.”
The 2026 UNEB examinations for Senior Four (UCE) run from October 8 to November 3, 2026, and Senior Six (UACE) examinations run from November 7 to December 5, 2026.
Msgr Kasibante advised parents to avoid sharing family problems or other distressing stories with candidates, saying such issues could affect their concentration and academic performance.
“Parents should encourage their children. Do not bring stories from home that will emotionally disturb them at this critical time. Let them concentrate,” Kasibante said.
He also urged the candidates to remain disciplined, work hard and entrust their challenges to Jesus Christ, saying faith and determination would help them overcome the pressure associated with their studies.
“Just pray to your God and read your books. Don’t waste time looking for materials which will just ruin your future. Cheating is ungodly, so don’t engage in it. But also, don’t look for any other magic to make you triumph,” he cautioned.
Kasibante encouraged the candidates to use the remaining time for group revision, saying studying together would enable them to share knowledge and help one another instead of concentrating solely on individual reading.
He also urged the students to make time for co-curricular activities and physical exercise to maintain their health and manage academic pressure.
“Your soul should be kept in a healthy body,” he said.
The school also celebrated its founder, the late Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga, who established the institution 29 years ago with the aim of improving education standards in his home village of Kyabakadde.
Kasibante praised the late Archbishop for his vision, saying the school had continued to grow and benefit learners from Mukono and other districts long after his death.
“Seeing St Cyprian having improved to this standard even after the Archbishop’s death, we glorify God who enabled him to put up these developments, which have not only benefited children from Kyabakadde but also learners from other districts outside Mukono,” he said.
Archbishop Cyprian Kizito Lwanga died on April 3, 2021, at the age of 68 years.
The school headteacher, Joseph Kamya, said the school had prepared 292 candidates for Senior Four, while 154 students were set to sit for Senior Six.
Kamya said the school was celebrating several milestones, including its Patron Saints Day in honour of St Cyprian, the blessing of candidates, achievements in sports and academics, and the acquisition of a new school bus financed by parents.
The school also recognised outstanding students who excelled in last year’s Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) assessments.
Three students who scored 19 points were awarded sh1 million each, while five students who scored 20 points received sh2 million each, together with plaques in recognition of their outstanding performance.