Humanist Clubs are thriving in the Humanist schools in Uganda. Membership is voluntary and students join to have fun with friends while carrying out good works in school and in the community.
The current Chair at Isaac Newton’s Humanist Club is Mumbere Rafert. He was introduced to Humanism at Kasese Humanist Primary School and has gradually embraced a Humanist outlook on life. Rafert is a charismatic leader and has attracted over 100 members to the club. He has introduced formal committee procedures with agendas, minutes and reports to work out their action plans. They put signs up around school reminding students of the 10 Humanist Commitments. In the community they carry water and food for frail elderly people living alone, they give talks in local primary schools about Humanism and they have a number of health initiatives in the villages around. The group composed their own Humanist anthem which they sing at meetings and events. Below are some pictures of them at work:
Rafert addressing Humanist Club
One of the Humanist signs
Taking care of the frail elderly
The clubs are doing such a good job in promoting Humanist values that UHST has started to make available small levels of financial support to encourage their efforts. Each club is asked to work out a realistic programme of activities based upon the 10 Humanist Commitments outlined by the American Humanist Association. Below is the proposal that we will be funding from the children at Katumba Parents’ Humanist Primary School.
Children of Katumba Parents’ Humanist Primary School beneath the 10 Humanist Commitments
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.
Since we launched the 2028 Sustainability Appeal in November, UHST supporters have donated over £60,000. This makes it UHST’s most successful fund-raising event since we started the charity in 2008.
It has enabled us to fund essential infrastructure to ensure that the Humanist schools meet essential Ministry of Education requirements. Below we can see the progress that has been made in the first 6 months of the appeal.
Muhokya Humanist Primary School, Kasese. Connection to Uganda’s clean electricity grid to provide lighting and power to the school. All of Uganda’s electricity comes from hydro-electric power stations on the River Nile and local rivers from the Ruwenzori Mountains near the school. Work has begun on a comprehensive refurbishment of the primary school.Kahendero Humanist Primary School, Kasese. This school in the destitute Lake George fishing village in Queen Elizabeth National Park has been comprehensively renovated.
Isaac Newton Primary School – Impressive plans for the new school hall with integral staff room. The hall will be used for assemblies, music, dance & drama events, debates, parents’ and community meetings, as well as for national examinations. Work is in progress.Katumba Parents’ Humanist Primary School. Construction of a small dormitory to enable girls to stay in school to prepare for exams in their final year. This avoids many of the girls having to walk up to 10 km each day to and from school and by escaping household chores gives girls time to study.
Eagle’s View Humanist Primary School, Kaiira. Construction of a cesspit for the new girls’ and female staff toilets. The pit is sealed to prevent leakage into the surrounding soil and water table. The contents will be pumped out each year for safe disposal.Kanungu Humanist Primary School – children sitting school examinations in their new school hall. This facility will enable children to take Primary Leaving Examinations within the familiar setting of their own school, as well as to use the hall for many other purposes.
2028 Sustainability Appeal Phase 2. We intend to launch a second phase of the 4-year appeal in November 2025. The immediate priorities will be the construction decent toilets for boys and male staff at Eagle’s View School (£5,400), and a second small dormitory at Katumba Parents’ Humanist Primary School so that boys can stay in school during their Primary 7 year before their exams (£12,500). Major renovation work is needed on the old primary school at Isaac Newton. Much and essential work is required at Mustard Seed primary and secondary schools.
Posted: April 7, 2025 by Steve Hurd
Support for Humanist Clubs
Humanist Clubs are thriving in the Humanist schools in Uganda. Membership is voluntary and students join to have fun with friends while carrying out good works in school and in the community.
The current Chair at Isaac Newton’s Humanist Club is Mumbere Rafert. He was introduced to Humanism at Kasese Humanist Primary School and has gradually embraced a Humanist outlook on life. Rafert is a charismatic leader and has attracted over 100 members to the club. He has introduced formal committee procedures with agendas, minutes and reports to work out their action plans. They put signs up around school reminding students of the 10 Humanist Commitments. In the community they carry water and food for frail elderly people living alone, they give talks in local primary schools about Humanism and they have a number of health initiatives in the villages around. The group composed their own Humanist anthem which they sing at meetings and events. Below are some pictures of them at work:
The clubs are doing such a good job in promoting Humanist values that UHST has started to make available small levels of financial support to encourage their efforts. Each club is asked to work out a realistic programme of activities based upon the 10 Humanist Commitments outlined by the American Humanist Association. Below is the proposal that we will be funding from the children at Katumba Parents’ Humanist Primary School.
Posted: April 5, 2025 by Steve Hurd
Old Boy becomes Headteacher at Mustard Seed School
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.
Posted: April 5, 2025 by Steve Hurd
Sustainability Appeal progress
Since we launched the 2028 Sustainability Appeal in November, UHST supporters have donated over £60,000. This makes it UHST’s most successful fund-raising event since we started the charity in 2008.
It has enabled us to fund essential infrastructure to ensure that the Humanist schools meet essential Ministry of Education requirements. Below we can see the progress that has been made in the first 6 months of the appeal.
This school in the destitute Lake George fishing village in Queen Elizabeth National Park has been comprehensively renovated.
2028 Sustainability Appeal Phase 2.
We intend to launch a second phase of the 4-year appeal in November 2025. The immediate priorities will be the construction decent toilets for boys and male staff at Eagle’s View School (£5,400), and a second small dormitory at Katumba Parents’ Humanist Primary School so that boys can stay in school during their Primary 7 year before their exams (£12,500). Major renovation work is needed on the old primary school at Isaac Newton. Much and essential work is required at Mustard Seed primary and secondary schools.