Gayaza High School Old Girls to Build New Staff Complex
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28 NEW VISION, Wednesday, October 7, 2015 MWALIMU Gayaza High School is the oldest girls’ school in Uganda, having In a Class of its Own been founded in 1905 by Christian missionaries Gayaza High School old girls to build new staff complex By Billy Rwothungeyo Allen Kagina Think of pioneers of all-girls’ education in Uganda, think of Gayaza High School. Gayaza is the oldest girls’ school in Uganda — having been founded in 1905 by Christian missionaries. It is understood that a year earlier, Sir. Apollo Kaggwa, a chief in Buganda then, had requested the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in England to open a girls’ school at Gayaza. The school was then born Lilian Tibatemwa in the first month of 1905 Ekirikubinza, with four girls, although this number grew to 43 in July of the same year. That was the beginning of an incredible journey. In 1939, the secondary high school section was started. With the growth in the The Gayaza High School administration block which houses the staffroom and headteacher’s office among enrollment of students at others. Photo by Tony Rujuta the school over the last 100 years, so has the number of School, says the new staff surprised when she joined the teaching staff. As a result, complex will also house other Gayaza High School in 1974 some of the infrastructure administration offices such for her O’level education. at the school such as the as the headteacher’s and her “There was no mistreatment staffroom is no longer deputies. of Senior One students. The Irene Muloni adequate. “The old girls of the school school emphasised discipline, The current staffroom was thought they have been hard work and respect. As a built to accommodate 25 missing in action. They ought result, Gayaza shaped the lives teachers. Today, the school has to give back to their mother. of many, including mine, so 73 teachers. Plans for a new Our teachers need to have we ought to give back to the staff complex are underway. good working ambiance, so school,” Muloni says. Gayaza High School has that they can concentrate on “The staff complex project is produced eminent female making Gayaza High School a noble one. Gayaza High is personalities in country such a better school than what it is one of the schools that we are as energy minister Irene today,” Kisarale says. proud of as a country. I urge Muloni, former state minister She says the artistic all old girls of the school to for water resources Betty impression was drawn. turn up in huge numbers to Bigombe, who is now senior “The architectural team support this cause,”she added. director for fragility, conflict interacted with the staff and Kigozi, who went to Gayaza Maria Kiwanuka and violence at the World asked them what they think High School between 1963 Bank, former finance minister an ideal staffroom could look and 1967, is proud of the and businesswoman Maria like. When they are done with school. She has since ensured Kiwanuka, Constitutional the actual architectural design, that many of her nieces and Court judge Lillian we shall forward it to the PTA Victoria Kisarale, the headteacher. Photo by Tony Rujuta other family members join the Tibatemwa-Ekirikubinza, and the board of the school for prestigious girls’ school. Uganda National Roads approval,” Kisarale reveals. school is to join hands in this In its over 100 years of Authority executive director Dr. Florence Masembe “ The old girls drive,” she says. existence, Gayaza High School Allen Kagina and former Kasirye, the chairperson of Patricia Kiconco, the head has not used any excuse — not Uganda Investment Authority GOGA, explains why a new of the GOtv segment at even a tiny staffroom could boss and businesswoman staffroom is urgently needed at of the school MultiChoice Uganda, also an drop the school’s guard at the Maggie Kigozi. the school. old girl of the school, is one of altar of academic excellence. Under the Gayaza Old Girls “Ever since I left this school ought to give the people spearheading the The school remains one of the Association (GOGA), the in 1974, the population of fundraising drive. best performers in national alumna have joined forces to the students has more than “The fundraising will examinations, a firm testament Maggie Kigozi support their alma mater and doubled, and so has the back to their officially start on October 10. to its school motto:“Never build a new staff complex at number of the teachers. If all goes well, we hope to Give Up.” school, which will include However, the staffroom has mother.” Kisarale break ground on the works in The school has hoisted a larger and more spacious remained the same,” Masembe the long third term holiday,” the Ugandan flag on the staffroom. says. Kiconco says. international scene. In To kick-start, the fund-raising “Every time I come back “Gayaza High has produced November 2013, the school drive, there will be a get to this school, I see some lessons,”she says. many of the nation’s brilliant was nominated by tech giant, together reunion dinner dance teachers marking books and Kasirye made a passionate women. By building a new Microsoft Corporation, as at the Kampala Serena Hotel talking to students on the plea to the old girls of the staffroom, we shall ensure that a Microsoft mentor school on October 10. All proceeds verandahs and under the school to show up and the school continues nurturing among the 80 selected in the from this event will form the trees. This is heart-breaking.” support their teachers. more responsible citizens of world. Gayaza High then foundation of the fundraising “I wonder what is going “I know that the culture of this country,” she says. emerged in the top six in the drive. Cards for the dinner are through the minds of our giving back is still lacking in In her primary school inaugural Microsoft School going for sh200,000. great teachers given that they our country, but we can do days, Muloni used to hear Pitch competition, alongside Victoria Kisarale, the do not have an environment better. My appeal to the old about bullying of Senior One elite schools from the UK, headteacher of Gayaza High conducive to prepare for girls and friends of this great students. However, she was Germany, Canada and others. Betty Bigombe.