Half a century of teaching
Jan 06, 2004
It came at the end of the annual festive season. The place where it was held, Speke Resort Munyonyo’s Victoria Ballroom, has in the past weeks held some of the grandest receptions we have ever seen.
It came at the end of the annual festive season. The place where it was held, Speke Resort Munyonyo’s Victoria Ballroom, has in the past weeks held some of the grandest receptions we have ever seen.
In fact, last time we were there was for the occasion of Uganda’s First Daughter Natasha Karugire’s “coming out†fashion show, and whoever was deemed to be among the social elite stepped out to be counted in their best outfits.
But this was a different kind of crowd. There was a marked absence of designer outfits, and probably the fashion police would have gone to town with what people were wearing.
But then these were people who usually do not give much attention to the banalities of fashion trends. They dressed simply, but well.
In fact, if our country’s turbulent history had not gone the way it did, and sent so many fortunes to the wild, the biggest smell at Munyonyo last Friday evening would have been that of old money.
They got together one more time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of one of their own –– Gladys Wambuzi, nee Nsibiriwa, who was marking 50 years of teaching.
It has indeed been a remarkable journey, and one she has achieved with grace, poise, and one incomparable magnanimous spirit.
Born to a Prime Minster of Buganda, and married to a prince from Busoga, she was to achieve the remarkable feat of having taught two of the Prime Ministers of Uganda. And, they were there to boast of the fact –– Apollo Nsibambi, current Prime Minister of Uganda, and the one before him, Kintu Musoke, who served from 1994 to 1999.
Wambuzi has also taught in almost all the best schools in Uganda, and some that were not so good.
She taught at King’s College Budo, (which she had attended as one of the very first girls to be accepted) Gayaza High School, Kyebambe Girls School, Nabumali Secondary School, Mengo Junior Secondary School, Makerere College School, and long Croft Modern Secondary School in the UK, among many others.
There was also the famous Garage School, which the emcee at the affair, Dr Kayondo, said was illegal.
Nevertheless, Justice Kiryabwire of the High Court was one of its proud alumni.
Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba is an old student of hers, and came to represent the First Family –– all of whose daughters had been taught by this remarkable lady.
Almost for the entire evening, her former students from the various schools came up and gave credence to a life that has changed so many others.
And she almost had no words to say at the end.
Wiping tears from her eyes at one time from laughter as her older sister, Mrs. Mdoe recalled how she was a naughty and stubborn young Gladys, Wambuzi could only thank everybody for what they added to her life.
And then it was time to cut the cake, and then circulate and talk to people she had not seen in so many years.
There was former Justice Minister Abu baker Mayanja, a friend and former classmate, Henry and Hugh Barlows, and their wives, and the other hundreds of guests that attended the celebration.
But many of the guests were elderly, and it had been a long festive season, and so some had to leave early.
At the end, sometime just after 10:00pm, former Chief Justice Samuel Wako Wambuzi proudly escorted his wife down the stairs, and away from all those old students who would want to take all her time and attention, to tell her how she is a blessing to education.
In fact, last time we were there was for the occasion of Uganda’s First Daughter Natasha Karugire’s “coming out†fashion show, and whoever was deemed to be among the social elite stepped out to be counted in their best outfits.
But this was a different kind of crowd. There was a marked absence of designer outfits, and probably the fashion police would have gone to town with what people were wearing.
But then these were people who usually do not give much attention to the banalities of fashion trends. They dressed simply, but well.
In fact, if our country’s turbulent history had not gone the way it did, and sent so many fortunes to the wild, the biggest smell at Munyonyo last Friday evening would have been that of old money.
They got together one more time to celebrate the remarkable achievements of one of their own –– Gladys Wambuzi, nee Nsibiriwa, who was marking 50 years of teaching.
It has indeed been a remarkable journey, and one she has achieved with grace, poise, and one incomparable magnanimous spirit.
Born to a Prime Minster of Buganda, and married to a prince from Busoga, she was to achieve the remarkable feat of having taught two of the Prime Ministers of Uganda. And, they were there to boast of the fact –– Apollo Nsibambi, current Prime Minister of Uganda, and the one before him, Kintu Musoke, who served from 1994 to 1999.
Wambuzi has also taught in almost all the best schools in Uganda, and some that were not so good.
She taught at King’s College Budo, (which she had attended as one of the very first girls to be accepted) Gayaza High School, Kyebambe Girls School, Nabumali Secondary School, Mengo Junior Secondary School, Makerere College School, and long Croft Modern Secondary School in the UK, among many others.
There was also the famous Garage School, which the emcee at the affair, Dr Kayondo, said was illegal.
Nevertheless, Justice Kiryabwire of the High Court was one of its proud alumni.
Major Muhoozi Kainerugaba is an old student of hers, and came to represent the First Family –– all of whose daughters had been taught by this remarkable lady.
Almost for the entire evening, her former students from the various schools came up and gave credence to a life that has changed so many others.
And she almost had no words to say at the end.
Wiping tears from her eyes at one time from laughter as her older sister, Mrs. Mdoe recalled how she was a naughty and stubborn young Gladys, Wambuzi could only thank everybody for what they added to her life.
And then it was time to cut the cake, and then circulate and talk to people she had not seen in so many years.
There was former Justice Minister Abu baker Mayanja, a friend and former classmate, Henry and Hugh Barlows, and their wives, and the other hundreds of guests that attended the celebration.
But many of the guests were elderly, and it had been a long festive season, and so some had to leave early.
At the end, sometime just after 10:00pm, former Chief Justice Samuel Wako Wambuzi proudly escorted his wife down the stairs, and away from all those old students who would want to take all her time and attention, to tell her how she is a blessing to education.