Budo now a first choice for girls
Mar 23, 2003
Twenty-seven years after Budo was founded ( 1906) twelve girls were admitted ( 1933) among them Hannah Wamala (Lule) a former first Lady making Budo the first co-educational Boarding school in Uganda.
By Dr Edward Kayondo
Twenty-seven years after Budo was founded ( 1906) twelve girls were admitted ( 1933) among them Hannah Wamala (Lule) a former first Lady making Budo the first co-educational Boarding school in Uganda. It is now 70 years since that historical event.
In November 1944 an old Girl of the school Catherine Senkatuuka (mother of Lawyer Allan Shonubi) became the first women to be admitted to Makerere College, the first women graduate in Uganda (Oxford University 1956) Sarah Ntiro came from Budo., in 1958 there were 22 girls , 100 in 1970 and 300 + today.
However for most parents Budo was perceived to be a boys schools which was a second choice for girls who had failed to get into Gayaza, Namagunga and Nabisunsa. A few parents however ef. Katikkiro Nsibirwa, Hon Sam Kutesa have sent all their daughters to Budo.
Over the last few years the situation has changed. the gap between the cut off points has narrowed to 5 (boys) and 6 girls) down down from 5 to 9 respectively. At ‘A’ level the cut off points are 15 (boys) 17 Girls ) down from 15 to 20 respectively. More interesting perhaps is that the cut off points for girls at Budo is now the same as that for Gayaza, Namagunga and Stiffer than those of almost all other girls schools.
The girls have now reached a critical mass (300, about 30% of population) they have passed the take off stage; performing as well and sometimes better than boys at both levels. (The best girls in UCE 2001 got 9 in the best 8 subjects.
This new found interest in Budo is fuelled by our products who are acting as role models Justice Julia Ssebutinde, Justice Leticia Kikonyogo, Hon, Gladys Wambuzi, Mrs Male (HM Gayaza) Late Hon. Betty Okwir, PS Kisakye, Mrs Joy Maraka ( Rector Greenhill ) Hon Winnie Byanyima, etc.
The school has responded by enlarging the two girls dormitories (Sabaganzi and Grace) introducing a vastarry of Games for girls cricket, Hockey, Basketball etc and generally paying more attention to girls.
A third dormitory to be named Catherine Senkatuka in memory of the first women to join Makerere College is being talked about.
The stake holders in the school are baffled by this new phenomenon and have not decided on how to proceed. The Headmaster receives up to 2000 applications for 120 places in Senior one and 1000 applications for 80 places in Senior 5. Forty percent of which are girls applications.
The board of Governors is of the view that the present 1000 students 30% of who are girls should be the maximum.
Some old timers think that 30% girls population is too high and should be reduced.
I am of the view that may be we should expand more targeting a 50% population for girls, bearing in mind that the great contribution the girls have made in moderating the behaviour of the boys and their superb. Academic performance.
The writer is the Mobiliser for the Old Budonians Club.
Twenty-seven years after Budo was founded ( 1906) twelve girls were admitted ( 1933) among them Hannah Wamala (Lule) a former first Lady making Budo the first co-educational Boarding school in Uganda. It is now 70 years since that historical event.
In November 1944 an old Girl of the school Catherine Senkatuuka (mother of Lawyer Allan Shonubi) became the first women to be admitted to Makerere College, the first women graduate in Uganda (Oxford University 1956) Sarah Ntiro came from Budo., in 1958 there were 22 girls , 100 in 1970 and 300 + today.
However for most parents Budo was perceived to be a boys schools which was a second choice for girls who had failed to get into Gayaza, Namagunga and Nabisunsa. A few parents however ef. Katikkiro Nsibirwa, Hon Sam Kutesa have sent all their daughters to Budo.
Over the last few years the situation has changed. the gap between the cut off points has narrowed to 5 (boys) and 6 girls) down down from 5 to 9 respectively. At ‘A’ level the cut off points are 15 (boys) 17 Girls ) down from 15 to 20 respectively. More interesting perhaps is that the cut off points for girls at Budo is now the same as that for Gayaza, Namagunga and Stiffer than those of almost all other girls schools.
The girls have now reached a critical mass (300, about 30% of population) they have passed the take off stage; performing as well and sometimes better than boys at both levels. (The best girls in UCE 2001 got 9 in the best 8 subjects.
This new found interest in Budo is fuelled by our products who are acting as role models Justice Julia Ssebutinde, Justice Leticia Kikonyogo, Hon, Gladys Wambuzi, Mrs Male (HM Gayaza) Late Hon. Betty Okwir, PS Kisakye, Mrs Joy Maraka ( Rector Greenhill ) Hon Winnie Byanyima, etc.
The school has responded by enlarging the two girls dormitories (Sabaganzi and Grace) introducing a vastarry of Games for girls cricket, Hockey, Basketball etc and generally paying more attention to girls.
A third dormitory to be named Catherine Senkatuka in memory of the first women to join Makerere College is being talked about.
The stake holders in the school are baffled by this new phenomenon and have not decided on how to proceed. The Headmaster receives up to 2000 applications for 120 places in Senior one and 1000 applications for 80 places in Senior 5. Forty percent of which are girls applications.
The board of Governors is of the view that the present 1000 students 30% of who are girls should be the maximum.
Some old timers think that 30% girls population is too high and should be reduced.
I am of the view that may be we should expand more targeting a 50% population for girls, bearing in mind that the great contribution the girls have made in moderating the behaviour of the boys and their superb. Academic performance.
The writer is the Mobiliser for the Old Budonians Club.