(This article was first published in the New Vision on May 11, 2022)
By Stephen Nuwagira
When Elias Katumire was posted to Biguli Secondary School in Kamwenge in 2009, his colleagues discouraged him from taking up the job.
“It is better to remain a teacher than go to a hard-to-reach school,” Katumire recalls one of his peers saying.
The school, located in Kibale east county, at the time, had only 90 learners. The road from Kamwenge town to the school was nearly impassable. Two headteachers posted to the school before Katumire had shunned it, saying it was a “bush school with no future”.
The 53-year-old turned a deaf ear to the naysayers and reported as an acting headteacher. The school had one classroom block and did not have a Uganda National Examinations Board centre. Students used to sit national exams at Mpara in Kyegegwa district. Today, the school has 793 students — 442 boys and 351 girls.
Geoffrey Byarugaba, the inspector of schools for Kibale east county, says Katumire attracted more learners through outreaches in primary schools, community mobilisation and sensitisation about the value of education.
Rev. Can. Jackson Rwabishari, the school board chairperson, says Katumire is a “gift from God.”
“The board is impressed with his management that has seen the school rise to become one of the top performing in the Rwenzori region.”
The representative of the Church of Uganda, the school’s founding body, attributes Katumire’s success to his being a “good listener, co-operative and selflessness”.
Excelling In Sciences
Biguli Secondary School was ranked 14th in sciences countrywide in the 2019 national A’level exams.
“We earmarked weekends for science practicals, giving students enough time to work with equipment and reagents,” Katumire says.
In the 2020 national O’level exams, the school got seven students in Division One and 40 others in Division Two. The school, which started in 1999, had recorded only three students with Division One before Katumire’s posting.
Biguli Secondary School was also recognised by the President for its high enrolment of girls at the time, scooping the sh330m presidential pledge during the 2011/2012 financial year. The money was used to construct a science laboratory, two science kits and three blocks with eight classrooms. They also built an administration block, two five-stance latrines for boys and girls, and a two-stance latrine for staff members.
Infrastructure, Staff
Katumire found the school with one block that had three classrooms and one office.
“The main hall had just been roofed and two small rooms were used as laboratories. Presently, we have four classroom blocks, a new administration block, dormitories for girls and boys and two science labs. We have also built a school clinic, staff quarters, computer lab and bathrooms using contributions from the PTA,” he says.
In 2015, using PTA funds, the school set up two water harvesting tanks with a capacity of 36,000 litres. The water is used during the dry season or when there are supply interruptions in the gravity flow system.
Katumire lobbied Water for the People, a non-profit organisation, which constructed water facilities at the school, saving students and staff from using unsafe water. The organisation also set up an incinerator, where used sanitary towels are disposed of.
Only 23 of the 40 teachers are on the Government payroll. However, with support from the board and PTA, Katumire ensures that other teachers get decent and timely pay. Also, the teachers on the Government payroll get a sh150,000 top-up. All teachers get bonuses for remedial classes and working over the weekend.
Supporting Needy Students
Needy students provide labour on school enterprises, enabling them to complete studies at Senior Four or Senior Six.
“Under this programme, needy students work during holidays, in exchange for full scholarships,” Abel Nakiiza, the chairperson of the PTA, says.
Income-Generating Ventures
The school has agribusinesses, such as a banana plantation on two acres, robusta coffee on one-and-a-half acres, and woodlots of nearly 1,000 eucalyptus trees. Katumire says the coffee plantation produces an average of 1.5 tonnes per season, bringing in sh9.7m. The school also has 350 kuroilers, five goats and seven head of cattle, two of which are milking. The school also recently earned sh3m in timber sales.
Rwenzori Region Football Queens
When Katumire took office, the school did not have a sports facility.
“I mobilised teachers and students to work on the school’s first pitch. Poles for the goal posts for the football pitch were carried by students from a distance of over 4km,” he says.
Today, the girls’ football team is among the top three in the region.
“They were the 2018 Rwenzori region champions. The boys’ team reached the district level during the 2019 post-primary football competitions,” he says.
COVID-19 Lockdown Interventions
During the lockdown, a team from the school used to visit students to counsel and encourage them to stay focused.
“We also featured on local radio stations to comfort students and parents so they stayed hopeful. Parents would also call, requesting that we counsel their children,” he says.
When schools were reopened, Biguli Secondary School received two student mothers.
“Our team visited the affected girls in their homes and encouraged them to not abandon studies,” he says. “Later, we also engaged other students to support them as we continue to monitor them.”
Supporting Community
Byarugaba says Katumire allows parents to pay fees with items, like firewood, bananas, vegetables and cereals. This endeared him to the community.
Golden Tips
- Teamwork
- Good working relations with all stakeholders
- Timely intervention in case of complaints
- Learner-centric policies and programmes
- Community engagement
Others Speak
Anna Maria Ninsiima, student
He supports sports activities and has been sponsoring the girls’ football team.
Emmanuel Oribibasa, student
He is an understanding person. He allows us to pay school fees in instalments.
Prossy Akankunda, student
He loves football and caters for the welfare of footballers. He always counsels us.
