Gayaza old girls pledge to uphold school brand

Jul 30, 2018

'Everywhere, Gayaza girls support each other. We have made enough progress and we must continue to support the school'

 
PIC: Gayaza High School Old Students Victoria Sekitoleko (left) and Magie Kigozi give their contribution towards meeting the cost of the extension of the staffroom and administration block, while Kisarare (second-left) looks on during the thanksgiving service on Saturday. (Credit: Maria Wamala)
 
GIVING BACK
 
The Gayaza students and the alumnae have expressed their commitment towards the brand of their schools. Gayaza High School and Gayaza Junior School are among the oldest church-founded schools in Uganda, having begun 113 years ago. 
 
The alumnae announced their resolve during their reunion (Gayaza Day) held at Gayaza High School in Wakiso district on Saturday.
 
The Church Missionary Society of England founded Gayaza High School after a land donation to the Church by Kabaka Daudi Cwa II in January 1905, becoming Uganda's fi rst girls'
boarding school.
 
In the beginning, the school's curriculum included agriculture, handiwork, child-care and needlework, as well as scripture, reading, writing, arithmetic and geography.
 
 
School values
Maggie Kigozi, the former executive director of Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) is one of the prominent old girls of Gayaza High School and she treats with pride the esteemed values of the school.
 
Kigozi, a member of the Senior One class of 1964, lauds the schools outstanding values of godliness, respect, time management, perseverance, integrity and excellence.
 
She says they have molded many girls into people beneficial to the country and beyond. Officiating as the chief guest at the re-union, Kigozi challenged the community never at any time to let the brand of Gayaza die off.
 
"Everywhere, Gayaza girls support each other. We have made enough progress and we must continue to support the school," she said.
 
Kigozi commended the school for maintaining good performance in academics, sports and other co-curricular
activities.
 
For 60-year-old Lillian Nyanzi (class 1966-1970), the salvation she attained in 1967 has remained a great memory in her, attributing everything good in her life to it.
 
"The value of Godliness, which guides the school has kept it growing strong, despite challenges that have emerged in the education sector and has seen many earlier schools collapse," she said.
 
The current students treated their older sisters to an array of entertainment that included a variety of cultural performances in demonstration of hospitality.
 
 
Associations
Gayaza Old Girls Association (GOGA), with over 600 members, has both the Uganda and UK chapter. 
The chairperson of GOGA, Rebecca Bukenya, said they re- organized with a major purpose to support the school.
 
"Even old girls in the United Kingdom are co-ordinating with us in extending support to the school," she said.
 
The alumni and the current students used the occasion to contribute funds to complete the re-construction of the school administration block.
 
The old students are undertaking the project, with support from the management, board, Parents' Teachers Association and the administration.
 
Bukenya said the project worth over sh2.2b is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.
 
"The first phase, where we have spent over sh700m is complete up to roofing level. We are embarking on phase two," she said.
 
The school headteacher, Vicky Kisarare Serunkuma, said the school has maintained high academic standards and is ranked among the best five in the country.
 
She said among the physical developments, the school had established a swimming pool and constructed a pavilion with the sitting capacity of over 1,800 people.

 

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