A BBC team has visited Kanungu Humanist Primary School. They were making a programme for World Service “Africa Eye” TV on the growth of Humanism and the Humanist Schools in Uganda.
Robert Magara showed them around his new school, which has been built near the site of the world’s worst religious cult massacre. Robert enjoyed having an opportunity to tell the world about the Kanungu massacre and his efforts to build a school which welcomed children from all sections of his divided local community to help heal the wounds of a dark past.
BBC team interviewing Robert Magara, Director of Kanungu Humanist School
Here is part of his report:
“The BBC visit for the Kanungu Humanist Primary School opening went very well. On 28th Jan 2022 Friday early in the morning, I warmly welcomed the BBC team: Peter Macjob, Chris Alcock and Steve Ayeny. Also present were Peter Kisirinya and Moses Kamya, representing Uganda Humanist Schools Association. Our school children were extremely happy to be the centre of the world’s attention! It is an event that they and their families will never forget.
BBC reporter Chris Alcock enthusing Kanungu children
The team filmed the school and the children, getting overhead shots using a drone, which caused a lot of excitement. I was interviewed as we walked together around the school. The team observed and spoke with children and teachers in class.
I took them from the school to the cult site. We spent about 5 hours there. I told them what happened in 2000 with the massacre. My friend Gasheka, a neighbour and relative, gave his eyewitness account of the poisoning and burning of 800 villagers in the church, which included his wife, and we visited their mass grave.
When we returned to the school, I was happy to be interviewed and have an opportunity to give my replies to a host of questions, including:
What inspired me to become a humanist?
Why did I start a humanist school in Kanungu in a religious community,
Where did I get the funds to construct a school like this in Kanungu?
Are there other humanist schools in Kanungu?
Will the children become Humanists and will this continue when they leave the primary school?
How do we teach the children. Do we teach religion?
How do we recruit teachers? Are they humanists?
How do we pay teachers? Where do the teachers stay?
Where do I get money to help children who cannot pay fees?
Do I have expectations of big numbers of students in our school?
What makes this a humanist school?
Do I give the students freedom to go to their churches? What of the teachers?
They also, surprisingly, asked me if I was religious?
The resulting discussion took us about 7 hours. I was very pleased to have an opportunity to answer such searching questions. I explained the tremendous support that we have received from Uganda Humanist Schools Trust. Without their help the completion of the school to the present level, would have been impossible. Chris Alcock from the BBC was very happy with their visit and he sent warm messages of appreciation.”
BBC Film Crew visits Kanungu
Posted: February 2, 2022 by Steve Hurd
A BBC team has visited Kanungu Humanist Primary School. They were making a programme for World Service “Africa Eye” TV on the growth of Humanism and the Humanist Schools in Uganda.
Robert Magara showed them around his new school, which has been built near the site of the world’s worst religious cult massacre. Robert enjoyed having an opportunity to tell the world about the Kanungu massacre and his efforts to build a school which welcomed children from all sections of his divided local community to help heal the wounds of a dark past.
Here is part of his report:
“The BBC visit for the Kanungu Humanist Primary School opening went very well. On 28th Jan 2022 Friday early in the morning, I warmly welcomed the BBC team: Peter Macjob, Chris Alcock and Steve Ayeny. Also present were Peter Kisirinya and Moses Kamya, representing Uganda Humanist Schools Association. Our school children were extremely happy to be the centre of the world’s attention! It is an event that they and their families will never forget.
The team filmed the school and the children, getting overhead shots using a drone, which caused a lot of excitement. I was interviewed as we walked together around the school. The team observed and spoke with children and teachers in class.
I took them from the school to the cult site. We spent about 5 hours there. I told them what happened in 2000 with the massacre. My friend Gasheka, a neighbour and relative, gave his eyewitness account of the poisoning and burning of 800 villagers in the church, which included his wife, and we visited their mass grave.
When we returned to the school, I was happy to be interviewed and have an opportunity to give my replies to a host of questions, including:
The resulting discussion took us about 7 hours. I was very pleased to have an opportunity to answer such searching questions. I explained the tremendous support that we have received from Uganda Humanist Schools Trust. Without their help the completion of the school to the present level, would have been impossible. Chris Alcock from the BBC was very happy with their visit and he sent warm messages of appreciation.”
Category: News