UHST wishes to congratulate Mustard Seed Humanist School on the appointment of a new headteacher.
Owen Kafambe, a former student, was chosen from a strong field of applicants. The appointment process was rigorous, involving officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Education.
Owen is a local boy, born and raised in Kamuli. The eldest of 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls, he was raised by a single mother after his father left them when Owen was 7 years old. As well as growing food to feed the family, his mother paid for Owen to attend a good school in Kampala by raising and selling chickens in the local market. He repaid her efforts by working hard and doing well in his studies. Owen was rewarded with a division 1 grade over 7 subjects in the Uganda Certificate in Education (UCE).
Picture shows Owen Kafambe teaching.
This qualified him to progress to advanced-level study, but his mother could no longer afford the fees being asked by his Kampala school. In 2017 she arranged for Owen to attend Mustard Seed School. The school had low fees and was close to home but it also had a growing reputation as a good school, ranked 5th of 36 schools in the Kamuli District. Moses Kamya, Mustard Seed’s headteacher at the time, waived fees for Owen in exchange for him devoting time to teaching science to lower secondary students while he studied for his Uganda Advanced Certificate in Education (UACE) in sciences.
In 2019 Owen completed his A-level studies with good grades – Physics B, Biology C and Chemistry E. This was an outstanding performance for a student in a school in a poor rural community. It enabled him to gain a place at Kampala University to study for a degree in Biology and Chemistry with Education. He chose a block-study route where coursework was undertaken during school vacations and by home study. This enabled him to work throughout as a part-time science teacher at Mustard Seed School, which earned him the money to pay university fees. In 2023 he graduated with a highly prized and scarce 1st class honours degree.
At 26 years of age Owen is young to become a headteacher. However, he has taught at the school for 8 years part time and one year full time since gaining his degree and qualified teacher status. Owen is married and lives with his wife on the school campus. They having been waiting for greater financial security before having children. Owen became a committed Humanist in 2019 as soon as he heard about the philosophy when he joined Mustard Seed School as a student. The philosophy struck an immediate chord with him. As a student he excelled in inter-school quizzes and essay-writing competitions. Since become headteacher in January he has been keen to support inter-school activities and already Mustard Seed has won the local schools’ football and music, dance and drama competitions.
Owen in headteacher’s office surrounded by trophies won by the school over the years.
Owen presenting prizes in inter-school Music, Dance & Drama Competition
Mustard Seed footballers with trophy for winners of the inter-schools knock out competition
Owen took over the school at a challenging time. The school went bankrupt in November. Due to a failure in management there was a dramatic fall in school fee collections which led to the school running up substantial arrears. It owed money to local suppliers of food and firewood, failed to pay students’ examination entry fees and had gone 3 months without paying staff salaries. In December UHST stepped in to save the school. We ensured that all arrears were paid and brought in an accountant to bring order to the school’s financial management.
The appointment of Owen Kafambe as the new headteacher is the final step in the school’s rehabilitation. As well as bringing order to the school, Owen has restored the confidence of staff, students and the wider community. As well as having a vision for the school, Owen is providing the leadership that the school needs. Owen is a committed science teacher. In addition to his wider duties as headteacher he teaches Biology to senior three students, Chemistry to senior four and gives Biology practical classes to senior 6 students in their run up to A-level (UACE).
UHST wishes Owen well in his exciting new challenge as headteacher of Mustard Seed School.
We wish to thank Moses Kamya, the former headteacher and director, for the enormous contribution that he has made to the school. Moses worked hard over many years to build up Mustard Seed school to its current standing. The legacy he has left to the wider Busota community is impressive. Since Moses set up the school, many children have received the life-changing gift of a decent education in a school that is inclusive and welcomes all children without discrimination. Mustard Seed has always been a happy school for children and staff. Long may this continue. We are delighted that Moses will continue as a member of the Board of Management of the school as Founding Director and wish him well in his quest to represent the Busota community as their Member of Parliament.
Old Boy becomes Headteacher at Mustard Seed School
Posted: April 5, 2025 by Steve Hurd
UHST wishes to congratulate Mustard Seed Humanist School on the appointment of a new headteacher.
Owen Kafambe, a former student, was chosen from a strong field of applicants. The appointment process was rigorous, involving officials from Uganda’s Ministry of Education.
Owen is a local boy, born and raised in Kamuli. The eldest of 6 children, 3 boys and 3 girls, he was raised by a single mother after his father left them when Owen was 7 years old. As well as growing food to feed the family, his mother paid for Owen to attend a good school in Kampala by raising and selling chickens in the local market. He repaid her efforts by working hard and doing well in his studies. Owen was rewarded with a division 1 grade over 7 subjects in the Uganda Certificate in Education (UCE).
Picture shows Owen Kafambe teaching.
This qualified him to progress to advanced-level study, but his mother could no longer afford the fees being asked by his Kampala school. In 2017 she arranged for Owen to attend Mustard Seed School. The school had low fees and was close to home but it also had a growing reputation as a good school, ranked 5th of 36 schools in the Kamuli District. Moses Kamya, Mustard Seed’s headteacher at the time, waived fees for Owen in exchange for him devoting time to teaching science to lower secondary students while he studied for his Uganda Advanced Certificate in Education (UACE) in sciences.
In 2019 Owen completed his A-level studies with good grades – Physics B, Biology C and Chemistry E. This was an outstanding performance for a student in a school in a poor rural community. It enabled him to gain a place at Kampala University to study for a degree in Biology and Chemistry with Education. He chose a block-study route where coursework was undertaken during school vacations and by home study. This enabled him to work throughout as a part-time science teacher at Mustard Seed School, which earned him the money to pay university fees. In 2023 he graduated with a highly prized and scarce 1st class honours degree.
At 26 years of age Owen is young to become a headteacher. However, he has taught at the school for 8 years part time and one year full time since gaining his degree and qualified teacher status. Owen is married and lives with his wife on the school campus. They having been waiting for greater financial security before having children. Owen became a committed Humanist in 2019 as soon as he heard about the philosophy when he joined Mustard Seed School as a student. The philosophy struck an immediate chord with him. As a student he excelled in inter-school quizzes and essay-writing competitions. Since become headteacher in January he has been keen to support inter-school activities and already Mustard Seed has won the local schools’ football and music, dance and drama competitions.
Owen took over the school at a challenging time. The school went bankrupt in November. Due to a failure in management there was a dramatic fall in school fee collections which led to the school running up substantial arrears. It owed money to local suppliers of food and firewood, failed to pay students’ examination entry fees and had gone 3 months without paying staff salaries. In December UHST stepped in to save the school. We ensured that all arrears were paid and brought in an accountant to bring order to the school’s financial management.
The appointment of Owen Kafambe as the new headteacher is the final step in the school’s rehabilitation. As well as bringing order to the school, Owen has restored the confidence of staff, students and the wider community. As well as having a vision for the school, Owen is providing the leadership that the school needs. Owen is a committed science teacher. In addition to his wider duties as headteacher he teaches Biology to senior three students, Chemistry to senior four and gives Biology practical classes to senior 6 students in their run up to A-level (UACE).
UHST wishes Owen well in his exciting new challenge as headteacher of Mustard Seed School.
We wish to thank Moses Kamya, the former headteacher and director, for the enormous contribution that he has made to the school. Moses worked hard over many years to build up Mustard Seed school to its current standing. The legacy he has left to the wider Busota community is impressive. Since Moses set up the school, many children have received the life-changing gift of a decent education in a school that is inclusive and welcomes all children without discrimination. Mustard Seed has always been a happy school for children and staff. Long may this continue. We are delighted that Moses will continue as a member of the Board of Management of the school as Founding Director and wish him well in his quest to represent the Busota community as their Member of Parliament.
Category: News