Kiggundu is sold out to helping the less fortunate
BRUNO Kiggundu’s school may not be modern — just two small blocks, one of them made out of wood, but it feels like a home.
By John Agaba
BRUNO Kiggundu’s school may not be modern — just two small blocks, one of them made out of wood, but it feels like a home.
Bright Parents Junior, Lubowa is the answer for children whose parents cannot afford school fees.
Paul Bogere, one of the children, says had it not been for Kiggundu, he would never have gone to school.
“He has bought for me clothes, paid my fees. He has promised to send me to a secondary school if I pass well,’’ he says.
Emmanuel Muwanguzi, a teacher at the school, says: “Kiggundu teaches the gospel of love. He listens and respects everyone. I have never seen him quarrelling with anyone.â€
Eva Nakaleme, a Primary Six pupil is proud to be a pupil at Kiggundu’s school.
“He encourages everyone to be friendly. You can never see anyone fight, not even the pupils in Primary One,’’ says Nakaleme.
Esther Akechi, Nakaleme’s classmate, says ‘Uncle’, (as Kiggundu is popularly known) ensures they receive the best of care while at school. He ensures that they have enough textbooks.
Kiggundu also promotes sports by buying sports shoes and jerseys. At times he is at the pitch with the pupils during sports events.
How he started
As a teacher, Kiggundu was moved by the many suffering children. He says many children came to school on empty stomachs and wore torn clothes. Some of the children were very bright but could not continue with school because they lacked fees.
But Kiggundu could do little because what he earned as a primary teacher was barely enough for him to even meet his own basic needs.
One day he met David Kyambadde, a Good Samaritan, who had a group of about 50 children he had got off the streets in Kampala. Kiggundu teamed up with Kyambadde to help the children by enrolling them in the school where he taught. But things did not work out well.
In 2002, he rented some land and started a school with two teachers.
But not long after, his landlord died and he got a misunderstanding with his new landlord.
“They gave me two months to vacate their premises,†he says.
Later Kiggundu met some Whites who offered to support the cause.
Currently, Bright Parents Junior has an enrollment of about 170 pupils. Of these, only 40 pay full fees.
The rest contribute what they can afford, 60 pupils study for free.
Kiggundu dreams of building a home for the handicapped.
Although the teachers at Kiggundu’s school earn little, they work hard because, he says he has made them understand his cause. He says his faith in God and financial discipline have helped him a lot.
What others say of him
Phillip Amundsen, a sponsor
He is a modest man.
Though he doesn’t have money, he has managed to create a wonderful world for the underprivileged children. He welcomes orphans and children from poor families to study for free. His school is extremely poor.
But it has dedicated and capable teachers.
Margret Serunjogi, a parent
He helps many of my neighbour’s children. Even when they don’t pay him, he tolerates them. He updates us on the progress of our children. Bruno understands our ways.
Magdalene Bulya, a parent
He takes care of his children well. I have seven children, three of whom study at his school. At times, when I delay paying school fees, he does not send them away.
On top of teaching them, he at times gives them clothes.
Achievements
Some of the children have been helped into secondary schools. Others have joined vocational studies.
Kiggundu says the school has produced sports men.
“Three of them play soccer at Proline Academy,†he says.
During their free time, pupils are taught handiwork like making crafts.
Kiggundu has also founded a community based organisation (CBO) in Bugiri to secure land and cattle for some underprivileged people. The CBO has also built fishing ponds for some people to improve their incomes.
Who is Kiggundu?
BORN in 1976 in Kamenyamigo, Masaka, Kiggundu’s father died when he was barely four years old. When his mother remarried, he spent his infancy with a helpless grandmother.
He did menial jobs to raise his school fees. He is thankful to Francis Byarugaba of Brothers of Christian Instruction in Kisubi, who inspired him to be selfless.
“Byarugaba told me that although I had suffered, I had to think about the less fortunate,’’ Kiggundu says.
Kiggundu had hoped to follow in Byaruhanga’s footsteps as a priest so he could help the helpless, but he could not realise this dream since his parents had not been married in church.
Kiggundu studied at Kisubi Boys and Kawuku Secondary School before joining Ggaba Teachers College for a certificate in primary education. He started teaching in 1997.
BRUNO Kiggundu’s school may not be modern — just two small blocks, one of them made out of wood, but it feels like a home.
Bright Parents Junior, Lubowa is the answer for children whose parents cannot afford school fees.
Paul Bogere, one of the children, says had it not been for Kiggundu, he would never have gone to school.
“He has bought for me clothes, paid my fees. He has promised to send me to a secondary school if I pass well,’’ he says.
Emmanuel Muwanguzi, a teacher at the school, says: “Kiggundu teaches the gospel of love. He listens and respects everyone. I have never seen him quarrelling with anyone.â€
Eva Nakaleme, a Primary Six pupil is proud to be a pupil at Kiggundu’s school.
“He encourages everyone to be friendly. You can never see anyone fight, not even the pupils in Primary One,’’ says Nakaleme.
Esther Akechi, Nakaleme’s classmate, says ‘Uncle’, (as Kiggundu is popularly known) ensures they receive the best of care while at school. He ensures that they have enough textbooks.
Kiggundu also promotes sports by buying sports shoes and jerseys. At times he is at the pitch with the pupils during sports events.
How he started
As a teacher, Kiggundu was moved by the many suffering children. He says many children came to school on empty stomachs and wore torn clothes. Some of the children were very bright but could not continue with school because they lacked fees.
But Kiggundu could do little because what he earned as a primary teacher was barely enough for him to even meet his own basic needs.
One day he met David Kyambadde, a Good Samaritan, who had a group of about 50 children he had got off the streets in Kampala. Kiggundu teamed up with Kyambadde to help the children by enrolling them in the school where he taught. But things did not work out well.
In 2002, he rented some land and started a school with two teachers.
But not long after, his landlord died and he got a misunderstanding with his new landlord.
“They gave me two months to vacate their premises,†he says.
Later Kiggundu met some Whites who offered to support the cause.
Currently, Bright Parents Junior has an enrollment of about 170 pupils. Of these, only 40 pay full fees.
The rest contribute what they can afford, 60 pupils study for free.
Kiggundu dreams of building a home for the handicapped.
Although the teachers at Kiggundu’s school earn little, they work hard because, he says he has made them understand his cause. He says his faith in God and financial discipline have helped him a lot.
What others say of him
Phillip Amundsen, a sponsor
He is a modest man.
Though he doesn’t have money, he has managed to create a wonderful world for the underprivileged children. He welcomes orphans and children from poor families to study for free. His school is extremely poor.
But it has dedicated and capable teachers.
Margret Serunjogi, a parent
He helps many of my neighbour’s children. Even when they don’t pay him, he tolerates them. He updates us on the progress of our children. Bruno understands our ways.
Magdalene Bulya, a parent
He takes care of his children well. I have seven children, three of whom study at his school. At times, when I delay paying school fees, he does not send them away.
On top of teaching them, he at times gives them clothes.
Achievements
Some of the children have been helped into secondary schools. Others have joined vocational studies.
Kiggundu says the school has produced sports men.
“Three of them play soccer at Proline Academy,†he says.
During their free time, pupils are taught handiwork like making crafts.
Kiggundu has also founded a community based organisation (CBO) in Bugiri to secure land and cattle for some underprivileged people. The CBO has also built fishing ponds for some people to improve their incomes.
Who is Kiggundu?
BORN in 1976 in Kamenyamigo, Masaka, Kiggundu’s father died when he was barely four years old. When his mother remarried, he spent his infancy with a helpless grandmother.
He did menial jobs to raise his school fees. He is thankful to Francis Byarugaba of Brothers of Christian Instruction in Kisubi, who inspired him to be selfless.
“Byarugaba told me that although I had suffered, I had to think about the less fortunate,’’ Kiggundu says.
Kiggundu had hoped to follow in Byaruhanga’s footsteps as a priest so he could help the helpless, but he could not realise this dream since his parents had not been married in church.
Kiggundu studied at Kisubi Boys and Kawuku Secondary School before joining Ggaba Teachers College for a certificate in primary education. He started teaching in 1997.