Remembering my first day at school
May 03, 2006
One of life’s greatest and memorable anxieties for all of us is the first time we set foot in school. The fear of the unknown <br>triggers off the most intriguing reactions. <b>Miles Rwamiti talked to a few notables and unveils interesting revelations
Solomon Gafabusa Iguru,
Omukama of Bunyoro
It was a moment of touring. As a young boy I wanted to play a lot with the new boys. The different games we had at school made me love school a lot and I was just like any normal person regardless of being from the palace. Because of love for games I was made a prefect after sometime. I went through different schools in primary because of different reasons.
Abed Bwanika,
Former, presidential candidate
I went to Kimwanyi Primary in Masaka, where I had four brothers. On top of that I went to school when I was much older compared to other pupils, so I wasn’t very nervous. One day after lunch, I went in class four minutes late and the teacher’s thumb-knocked me in the head. It hurt so much because I didn’t have hair. I found writing letter K hard because I was confusing it for T.
Joel Isabirye,
Programme director Beat FM
I don’t remember most of the things, but I can’t forget the word ‘bullying’. Most boys used to talk about it every time they came for holidays and I got scared of going to school. However, by the time I got into school strong policies about it had been passed and I wasn’t a victim.
Colonel Leo Kyanda,
CMI boss
Hah! It was fun because nothing bothered me. My mother was a nursery teacher. She used to have kids around her most of the time so I learnt how to write and they made me love school. I had problems with writing letter G and number 8 which to me looked alike.
Best Kemigisa,
Toro Queen Mother
God! It was one of the worst experiences in my life. I went to a school called Lutuku in the village. It was very far from home and we used to go without shoes. On my first day I cried and refused to go back until I had got new shoes. I then loved school because I had shoes and other pupils didn’t. It made me feel special. In class, I was very quiet and serious with my work because every time I got something wrong, I felt so bad.
Hellen Kakyo,
Country manager Dark and Lovely
My first day at school was very bad. Our school had storeyed buildings and while climbing the stairs, I was pushed by a kid and fell. I hurt my lips and I bled a lot. The next day I left for UK with my family where I had my pre-primary.
Angella Katatumba,
Singer
I was taken to Katatumba Academy in Mbarara and since I was used to being with my mother most of the time, I cried a lot when she left me. I was later introduced to some older pupils who helped me out. Somehow things didn’t go wrong because my father owned the school. I found it very hard to pronounce letter ‘W’.
Karim Hirji,
Hotel magnate
My first day at school was a like a dream because I did not expect to ever go there. I begun school late due to lack of school fees. I went through Agakhan. I was so excited. I was very careful and wanted to do everything well. I hated writing letter X because I thought it meant something wrong.
Paul Hansen,
Manager UTL
That day was special to me. I wanted to be like my peers; to carry a container with food, put on a uniform and carry a bag on my back. I was eager to start writing.
Hajji Musa Katongole,
UTODA Boss
I was so excited. When I saw the pupils, I only thought of playing. I liked my uniform because it made me look like the others.
Jane Kasumba,
PRO, UBCTV
I cried until I was taken back home. I hated the uniform because it reminded me of school. I feared answering questions in class because every time someone gave a wrong answer, other pupils would laugh and give the person names.
David Katumwa,
Managing Director, Katumwa Sports Centre.
Going to school was great. It was a time where someone putting on shoes would be regarded as a ‘king’. I was too short compared to my classmates. I was scared of them . One day I urinated in class because I feared to go outside. Writing was a little bit easy, although letter G and number 9 used to confuse me.
Hellen Kawesa,
PRO, Makerere University.
I was very scared. When my mother left after taking me to McKinnon Nursery School, Nakasero I cried very loudly that I attracted other children.
I was very small, but with a very deep voice, which made me feel so bad because whenever I would talk, children laughed at me.
As a result I couldn’t get out of class fearing that the others would laugh at me and I wet my panties. I enjoyed writing, but I used to confused number 8 and letter B.
David Magara,
Head of security agency, VCCU
I passed through a village school down in the west.
We used to walk many miles to school moreover without shoes. I used to fear the fog in the morning.
Pradeep M. Thadani,
Managing director Man About Town
It was a great day in my life. Before I joined, my mother used to teach me how to write so by the time I got to school, I was the best when it came to writing. In fact no body beat me at handwriting until I left the school. I went through a school in India called Xavier, which was one of the best. However, I left after a teacher slapped me hard in front of the class.
Patrick Isingoma,
Chief Administrative Officer, Hoima
I was tense a bit and fearful, but I didn’t cry. I was already tired of staying at home, so going to school was a joy for me. I wasn’t bothered because I had big sisters in the school, which comforted me.
Jaberi Bidandi Ssali,
Former minister
My mother tells me I was very intelligent and loved school a lot. I was very argumentative and always asked to many questions in class.
Omukama of Bunyoro
It was a moment of touring. As a young boy I wanted to play a lot with the new boys. The different games we had at school made me love school a lot and I was just like any normal person regardless of being from the palace. Because of love for games I was made a prefect after sometime. I went through different schools in primary because of different reasons.
Abed Bwanika,
Former, presidential candidate
I went to Kimwanyi Primary in Masaka, where I had four brothers. On top of that I went to school when I was much older compared to other pupils, so I wasn’t very nervous. One day after lunch, I went in class four minutes late and the teacher’s thumb-knocked me in the head. It hurt so much because I didn’t have hair. I found writing letter K hard because I was confusing it for T.
Joel Isabirye,
Programme director Beat FM
I don’t remember most of the things, but I can’t forget the word ‘bullying’. Most boys used to talk about it every time they came for holidays and I got scared of going to school. However, by the time I got into school strong policies about it had been passed and I wasn’t a victim.
Colonel Leo Kyanda,
CMI boss
Hah! It was fun because nothing bothered me. My mother was a nursery teacher. She used to have kids around her most of the time so I learnt how to write and they made me love school. I had problems with writing letter G and number 8 which to me looked alike.
Best Kemigisa,
Toro Queen Mother
God! It was one of the worst experiences in my life. I went to a school called Lutuku in the village. It was very far from home and we used to go without shoes. On my first day I cried and refused to go back until I had got new shoes. I then loved school because I had shoes and other pupils didn’t. It made me feel special. In class, I was very quiet and serious with my work because every time I got something wrong, I felt so bad.
Hellen Kakyo,
Country manager Dark and Lovely
My first day at school was very bad. Our school had storeyed buildings and while climbing the stairs, I was pushed by a kid and fell. I hurt my lips and I bled a lot. The next day I left for UK with my family where I had my pre-primary.
Angella Katatumba,
Singer
I was taken to Katatumba Academy in Mbarara and since I was used to being with my mother most of the time, I cried a lot when she left me. I was later introduced to some older pupils who helped me out. Somehow things didn’t go wrong because my father owned the school. I found it very hard to pronounce letter ‘W’.
Karim Hirji,
Hotel magnate
My first day at school was a like a dream because I did not expect to ever go there. I begun school late due to lack of school fees. I went through Agakhan. I was so excited. I was very careful and wanted to do everything well. I hated writing letter X because I thought it meant something wrong.
Paul Hansen,
Manager UTL
That day was special to me. I wanted to be like my peers; to carry a container with food, put on a uniform and carry a bag on my back. I was eager to start writing.
Hajji Musa Katongole,
UTODA Boss
I was so excited. When I saw the pupils, I only thought of playing. I liked my uniform because it made me look like the others.
Jane Kasumba,
PRO, UBCTV
I cried until I was taken back home. I hated the uniform because it reminded me of school. I feared answering questions in class because every time someone gave a wrong answer, other pupils would laugh and give the person names.
David Katumwa,
Managing Director, Katumwa Sports Centre.
Going to school was great. It was a time where someone putting on shoes would be regarded as a ‘king’. I was too short compared to my classmates. I was scared of them . One day I urinated in class because I feared to go outside. Writing was a little bit easy, although letter G and number 9 used to confuse me.
Hellen Kawesa,
PRO, Makerere University.
I was very scared. When my mother left after taking me to McKinnon Nursery School, Nakasero I cried very loudly that I attracted other children.
I was very small, but with a very deep voice, which made me feel so bad because whenever I would talk, children laughed at me.
As a result I couldn’t get out of class fearing that the others would laugh at me and I wet my panties. I enjoyed writing, but I used to confused number 8 and letter B.
David Magara,
Head of security agency, VCCU
I passed through a village school down in the west.
We used to walk many miles to school moreover without shoes. I used to fear the fog in the morning.
Pradeep M. Thadani,
Managing director Man About Town
It was a great day in my life. Before I joined, my mother used to teach me how to write so by the time I got to school, I was the best when it came to writing. In fact no body beat me at handwriting until I left the school. I went through a school in India called Xavier, which was one of the best. However, I left after a teacher slapped me hard in front of the class.
Patrick Isingoma,
Chief Administrative Officer, Hoima
I was tense a bit and fearful, but I didn’t cry. I was already tired of staying at home, so going to school was a joy for me. I wasn’t bothered because I had big sisters in the school, which comforted me.
Jaberi Bidandi Ssali,
Former minister
My mother tells me I was very intelligent and loved school a lot. I was very argumentative and always asked to many questions in class.