Mukiibi lives his school-building dream
MANY people have ventured into businesses and they collapse after a while. Some of them have not had a chance to find out why their businesses collapsed. Not so Lawrence Mukiibi, the proprietor of St. Lawrence schools. Though he has a chain of schools, Mukiibi has succeeded, despite stiff competitio
By Madinah Tebajjukira
MANY people have ventured into businesses and they collapse after a while. Some of them have not had a chance to find out why their businesses collapsed. Not so Lawrence Mukiibi, the proprietor of St. Lawrence schools. Though he has a chain of schools, Mukiibi has succeeded, despite stiff competition from other schools. Seated in an organised office with trophies and portraits on the wall, Mukiibi says since childhood, his ambition was to invest in schools.
Mukiibi has built five schools and a university in 14 years. He started with Kabaka’s Lake in 1993, Cream Land in 1997, Horizon in 1999, London College in 2002, Paris Palais in 2005 and St Lawrence University this year.
“I had my role model, Mr. Bernard Kikanda, who taught me from Senior One to Senior Six at St. Bernard’s College. I am happy, I have realised my dream,†Mukiibi narrates.
Born to Elizabeth Nabawanuka and Peter Kimuli (RIP), the dark-skinned Mukiibi wears a tough face on sight, but changes to a smiling one, as he talks to people.
Mukiibi went to Kyansi Primary School in Kibinge, Masaka district, in the early 60s, before joining St. Bernard College Kisowera for both O and A’ levels.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from Makerere University in 1976. He went into exile in Kenya due to political instability, soon after university. While there, he taught at Masaba High School from 1976-1978, before becoming an examiner in English Language with the East African Examinations Council, and later promoted to senior examiner in 1983.
Though Mukiibi conceived the idea of building schools in his early years, the dream took shape when he returned home in 1989, only to work as a headmaster at Kampala Parents School.
“This was a demotion and I felt upset. I had trained in secondary education. This was a big challenge. I had to learn how to handle the small pupils. This forced me to work hard to build my own schools,†he reminisces.
Pending his return to Uganda, Mukiibi resigned as senior examiner in 1983 to concentrate on Afraha High School in Nakuru, Kenya, where he was headmaster.
He attributes his success to hard work. “I sleep for only four hours. Unlike our colleagues who take only bright students, the majority who join St Lawrence schools are not bright. So I spend time planning how to improve their performance.â€
To Mukiibi, leave is a myth. He can’t recall when he last took it. Although he is a Christian, he is perturbed with the Christmas season. “Christmas season interrupts my entire plans because whatever I want to do, I have no man power. However, it’s the best period for me to do my work because I can access all files since I expect nobody else to come to the office.â€
At such a stage, one would be satisfied with what is in place. To Mukiibi, this is a drop of water in the sea.
“These schools are not many as people may think. There is an Asian friend of mine in Kenya who has 17 schools. I hope to build more as long as there is demand,†he ascertains.
Though he never qualified in art, Mukiibi designs all his school structures before hiring structural engineers to reinforce the design. “Some students are attracted to join my schools because of the way the structures appear.â€
Because of his village background, students from rural areas pay half of the school fees.
MANY people have ventured into businesses and they collapse after a while. Some of them have not had a chance to find out why their businesses collapsed. Not so Lawrence Mukiibi, the proprietor of St. Lawrence schools. Though he has a chain of schools, Mukiibi has succeeded, despite stiff competition from other schools. Seated in an organised office with trophies and portraits on the wall, Mukiibi says since childhood, his ambition was to invest in schools.
Mukiibi has built five schools and a university in 14 years. He started with Kabaka’s Lake in 1993, Cream Land in 1997, Horizon in 1999, London College in 2002, Paris Palais in 2005 and St Lawrence University this year.
“I had my role model, Mr. Bernard Kikanda, who taught me from Senior One to Senior Six at St. Bernard’s College. I am happy, I have realised my dream,†Mukiibi narrates.
Born to Elizabeth Nabawanuka and Peter Kimuli (RIP), the dark-skinned Mukiibi wears a tough face on sight, but changes to a smiling one, as he talks to people.
Mukiibi went to Kyansi Primary School in Kibinge, Masaka district, in the early 60s, before joining St. Bernard College Kisowera for both O and A’ levels.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Education degree from Makerere University in 1976. He went into exile in Kenya due to political instability, soon after university. While there, he taught at Masaba High School from 1976-1978, before becoming an examiner in English Language with the East African Examinations Council, and later promoted to senior examiner in 1983.
Though Mukiibi conceived the idea of building schools in his early years, the dream took shape when he returned home in 1989, only to work as a headmaster at Kampala Parents School.
“This was a demotion and I felt upset. I had trained in secondary education. This was a big challenge. I had to learn how to handle the small pupils. This forced me to work hard to build my own schools,†he reminisces.
Pending his return to Uganda, Mukiibi resigned as senior examiner in 1983 to concentrate on Afraha High School in Nakuru, Kenya, where he was headmaster.
He attributes his success to hard work. “I sleep for only four hours. Unlike our colleagues who take only bright students, the majority who join St Lawrence schools are not bright. So I spend time planning how to improve their performance.â€
To Mukiibi, leave is a myth. He can’t recall when he last took it. Although he is a Christian, he is perturbed with the Christmas season. “Christmas season interrupts my entire plans because whatever I want to do, I have no man power. However, it’s the best period for me to do my work because I can access all files since I expect nobody else to come to the office.â€
At such a stage, one would be satisfied with what is in place. To Mukiibi, this is a drop of water in the sea.
“These schools are not many as people may think. There is an Asian friend of mine in Kenya who has 17 schools. I hope to build more as long as there is demand,†he ascertains.
Though he never qualified in art, Mukiibi designs all his school structures before hiring structural engineers to reinforce the design. “Some students are attracted to join my schools because of the way the structures appear.â€
Because of his village background, students from rural areas pay half of the school fees.