Kiira College Butiki down but not out
Aug 01, 2011
CLEAR blue skies hang up above us and the gentle breeze sweep across the small thickets as we snake our way towards the Kiira College Butiki compound.
By Frederick Womakuyu
CLEAR blue skies hang up above us and the gentle breeze sweep across the small thickets as we snake our way towards the Kiira College Butiki compound.
The 10km journey along the Jinja–Kamuli road, sets before our eyes the glaring contrast between the current condition of the school and its glorious past -- structures with broken windows, rotting asbestos roofs and walls that have not seen a coat of paint for years.
Daniel Kaima, the headmaster of the school, is already facing the baptism of fire as he takes over the school with a debt of over sh300m. He also has to raise about sh12b needed to revamp the school.
Two months ago, the students walked to the Jinja district chief administrative officer to protest the poor state of the school.
Humble beginning
Kiira College Butiki was started by the Busoga local government in 1959. It was established because Busoga College Mwiri, which had been established for the Basoga, had become a national school and started admitted few students from Busoga. There was need to establish another school for Basoga.
Until 1980, Kiira College Butiki had only O’ Level. Between 1959 and 1970, the school featured among the top 10 schools in the country.
An average of 32 out of 40 students often scored first grade at national exams. The only time they had unrest was 1971 when the school had its first strike over poor feeding and administrative incompetence.
The headmaster then, Arthur Kisubi (RIP) was transferred to another school and W.J. Musanyana (RIP) took over. For the next 10 years until 1980, Kiira College was a centre of academic excellence.
Prof. Emma Tusubira, an old boy of the school between 1976 and 1980, says the school was built on the pillars of discipline and hard work.
However, in 1984 the school suffered a violent strike that forced it to close for several months. The administration block, the headmaster’s house and his livestock were burnt, the deputy headmaster’s wife raped and teachers beaten up. It was one of the worst school strikes ever witnessed in the country. No student from Kiira College was admitted in another school after the strike. Some candidates did not sit national exams and so many dropped out.
In 1985, the school set up an investigations committee to look into the matter and come up with recommendations.
A new beginning
Between 1990 and 2002, the pass rate at Butiki was at an average of about 80%. In 1990, Isabirye started revamping the school by recruiting young graduates from Makerere University. He also instilled discipline and established the school as a training ground for the best arts students.
Between 1987 and 2001, the school sent an average of over 50 students to university on Government sponsorship. According to the school, 98.5% of them were arts students.
Benon M. Kigenyi, who was a student between 1988 and 1994 and now the chairman of the old boys association, says: “We developed a cordial relationship with the teachers and worked hard. There was competition in every discipline and game. Everyone was competing to be the best.†Kigenyi, who works as the principal assistant secretary, Northern Uganda Rehabilitation in the Office of the Prime Minister, says the teachers believed in themselves and looked at the school like their own and worked very hard.
Isabirye retired in 2001 and Daudi Mulongo, a former deputy headmaster from Mwiri, took charge.
From arts to sciences
Mulongo started positioning Kiira College Butiki as an all-science school. He bought laboratory equipment and recruited more science teachers and the best students.
By 2002, there were over 200 science students compared to an average of about 14 arts students.
Between 2002 and 2006, the school sent an average of 80 students to university on Government sponsorship. The pass rate at O’ Level soared to 88% and Kiira College was the ideal academic destination.
However, starting 2007, communication between teachers and the administration deteriorated. The teachers lost morale and some stopped teaching.
The students responded with a strike that saw the transfer of Mulongo to Manjasi High School.
Kaima was then transferred from Iganga High School to Kiira College.
Between 2007 and 2010, the school intake to university on Government sponsorship fell from 47 students in 2007 to 42 students in 2008. It slipped to 38 students in 2009 and to 19 students in 2010.
“Butiki has great potential. The students are very bright and I believe the teachers are superb. We want to improve academics, motivate and encourage my colleagues,†says Kaima.
Kaima has set up a senior management committee composed of teachers that meets weekly to review the progress of the reforms. He has revived house meetings, seminars and extra lessons that had stalled.
A communication channel has been established where teachers, prefects and councillors often meet with the administrators and talk about their challenges and later communicate back to the whole school.
The Old Boys Association is also active and working hand-in-hand with the school authority. The old boys often visit the school to encourage and sensitise the boys. Kigenyi, the chairman of the old boys, explains that they will be supporting the boys through career guidance. He says the old boys will also help to rehabilitate some of the dilapidated buildings in the school.
Prominent old boys
Former state minister for trade Gaggawala Wambuzi, JEEMA leader Asuman Basalirwa, (deputy CDF) Bishop Kyoma, Moses Sekibogo (a.k.a Mowzey Radio),
Timothy Batabaire (professional footballer), Maurice Mugisha, NTV Uganda, Hon Abdu Katuntu (MP Bugweri).
CLEAR blue skies hang up above us and the gentle breeze sweep across the small thickets as we snake our way towards the Kiira College Butiki compound.
The 10km journey along the Jinja–Kamuli road, sets before our eyes the glaring contrast between the current condition of the school and its glorious past -- structures with broken windows, rotting asbestos roofs and walls that have not seen a coat of paint for years.
Daniel Kaima, the headmaster of the school, is already facing the baptism of fire as he takes over the school with a debt of over sh300m. He also has to raise about sh12b needed to revamp the school.
Two months ago, the students walked to the Jinja district chief administrative officer to protest the poor state of the school.
Humble beginning
Kiira College Butiki was started by the Busoga local government in 1959. It was established because Busoga College Mwiri, which had been established for the Basoga, had become a national school and started admitted few students from Busoga. There was need to establish another school for Basoga.
Until 1980, Kiira College Butiki had only O’ Level. Between 1959 and 1970, the school featured among the top 10 schools in the country.
An average of 32 out of 40 students often scored first grade at national exams. The only time they had unrest was 1971 when the school had its first strike over poor feeding and administrative incompetence.
The headmaster then, Arthur Kisubi (RIP) was transferred to another school and W.J. Musanyana (RIP) took over. For the next 10 years until 1980, Kiira College was a centre of academic excellence.
Prof. Emma Tusubira, an old boy of the school between 1976 and 1980, says the school was built on the pillars of discipline and hard work.
However, in 1984 the school suffered a violent strike that forced it to close for several months. The administration block, the headmaster’s house and his livestock were burnt, the deputy headmaster’s wife raped and teachers beaten up. It was one of the worst school strikes ever witnessed in the country. No student from Kiira College was admitted in another school after the strike. Some candidates did not sit national exams and so many dropped out.
In 1985, the school set up an investigations committee to look into the matter and come up with recommendations.
A new beginning
Between 1990 and 2002, the pass rate at Butiki was at an average of about 80%. In 1990, Isabirye started revamping the school by recruiting young graduates from Makerere University. He also instilled discipline and established the school as a training ground for the best arts students.
Between 1987 and 2001, the school sent an average of over 50 students to university on Government sponsorship. According to the school, 98.5% of them were arts students.
Benon M. Kigenyi, who was a student between 1988 and 1994 and now the chairman of the old boys association, says: “We developed a cordial relationship with the teachers and worked hard. There was competition in every discipline and game. Everyone was competing to be the best.†Kigenyi, who works as the principal assistant secretary, Northern Uganda Rehabilitation in the Office of the Prime Minister, says the teachers believed in themselves and looked at the school like their own and worked very hard.
Isabirye retired in 2001 and Daudi Mulongo, a former deputy headmaster from Mwiri, took charge.
From arts to sciences
Mulongo started positioning Kiira College Butiki as an all-science school. He bought laboratory equipment and recruited more science teachers and the best students.
By 2002, there were over 200 science students compared to an average of about 14 arts students.
Between 2002 and 2006, the school sent an average of 80 students to university on Government sponsorship. The pass rate at O’ Level soared to 88% and Kiira College was the ideal academic destination.
However, starting 2007, communication between teachers and the administration deteriorated. The teachers lost morale and some stopped teaching.
The students responded with a strike that saw the transfer of Mulongo to Manjasi High School.
Kaima was then transferred from Iganga High School to Kiira College.
Between 2007 and 2010, the school intake to university on Government sponsorship fell from 47 students in 2007 to 42 students in 2008. It slipped to 38 students in 2009 and to 19 students in 2010.
“Butiki has great potential. The students are very bright and I believe the teachers are superb. We want to improve academics, motivate and encourage my colleagues,†says Kaima.
Kaima has set up a senior management committee composed of teachers that meets weekly to review the progress of the reforms. He has revived house meetings, seminars and extra lessons that had stalled.
A communication channel has been established where teachers, prefects and councillors often meet with the administrators and talk about their challenges and later communicate back to the whole school.
The Old Boys Association is also active and working hand-in-hand with the school authority. The old boys often visit the school to encourage and sensitise the boys. Kigenyi, the chairman of the old boys, explains that they will be supporting the boys through career guidance. He says the old boys will also help to rehabilitate some of the dilapidated buildings in the school.
Prominent old boys
Former state minister for trade Gaggawala Wambuzi, JEEMA leader Asuman Basalirwa, (deputy CDF) Bishop Kyoma, Moses Sekibogo (a.k.a Mowzey Radio),
Timothy Batabaire (professional footballer), Maurice Mugisha, NTV Uganda, Hon Abdu Katuntu (MP Bugweri).