Prime
Namagunga: 75 years of grooming ladies
Namagunga is proud of its image as the bastion of good morals for future ladies. PHOTO BY STEPHEN OTAGE
The young girls that dot the compound in their little uniforms do not adequately tell the story of this giant of a school that only 25 years shy of celebrating a century has made multitudes of girls into ladies.
More than seven decades of dedicated service to thousands of girls in the country is a hallmark to the Namagunga brand as it turns seventy five on October 1, 2011. The school has, over the years, believed in imparting quality education with tremendous significance given to character-building.
Namagunga Primary Boarding School is a school with a unique tradition, one driven by the primary objective of giving the girl child an early opportunity to make something out of their lives in future. As such, a parent can secure admission for their child as soon as they come into the world.
“Applications are made only for Primary One entry. (This can be done as early as the child is born) or immediately after the child begins her nursery school,” says Sr Assumpta Babirye, the school head.
“The culture of the school is still “first come, first served” when admitting Primary One entrants. You are therefore advised to book for a place as soon as the baby girl is born to avoid future disappointments,” Sr Babirye told a parents meeting sometime last year. But today, she seems to have relaxed the tradition” “We encourage parents to apply early enough. Needless to mention, the demand for our services is very high.”
With about six months to open another academic year, Sr Assumpta says Primary One 2012 admission list is almost full. Founded in 1936 by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, led by Mother Mary Kevin Kearney, the school majorly set out to expand opportunities for girls. It was later dedicated to St. Theresa as its patron Saint, hence drawing its name St Theresa’s Namagunga Primary Boarding School.
Located in Namagunga Parish, Nagojje Sub-County, Nakifuma County, Mukono District, a school that started with 100 girls, now boasts of 1, 205 pupils, handled by 42 teachers and 80 support staff ranging from dormitory matrons, nurses and welfare caretakers, who wash clothes and beddings for the little girls.
Seventy five years ago, the school had only one classroom with less than 30 children. Today’s picture is different - it is that of excellence, leading in Uganda’s Primary Seven leavers’ academic performance, despite numerous challenges the administration claims are hindrances to the dream of getting to greater heights. Namagunga’s mission is “to have equitable education for all with special emphasis on the girl child.” Sr Assumpta says the school has since inception ranked high in commitment to academic excellence and moral integrity.
Young minds interact with each other through the teaching and guidance provided by a talented, dedicated and caring staff, the administrators say. Standing on a hill, the school still carries with it buildings as old as 75 years, albeit some given a face-lift of paint coatings. Others have since been abandoned.
“We lack space for expansion,” Sr Assumpta says, appealing to government for a probable hand. The school also faces challenges of a high cost of living and the inflationary trend Uganda is facing, making it increasingly difficult to run the school without other sources of revenue.
Some of the renown old girls of the school include; Salaamu Musumba (FDC Vice President) Winnie Kaboggoza, (former secretary Police) Hilda Musubire, (Permanent Secretary, Public Service Commission), Eseza Byakika, and Jenifer Busulwa Kaggwa among others.
Prior to their celebrations, the school has taken part in many community projects like visitations to the less privileged in the Lugazi community, cleaning the streets and giving to the sick and elderly.
