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.”
Bringing together parents and teachers at Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School to form a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) was an important landmark in the school’s development. The school has chosen to place the AHA’s “10 Commitments” at the forefront of its efforts to promote Positive Humanist values in the school and wider community. The 10 Commitments adorn the front wall of the school building. Humanist schools in Uganda are finding that local people embrace this inclusive statement of Humanist values, whatever their religious or personal beliefs. The 10 Commitments are an excellent template for a good school and for a good society.*
Happy parents at the founding meeting of Katumba Humanist School Parent-Teachers Association
Here is an account of the launch of Katumba Humanist School’s Parent-Teacher Association by Juma Irumba Siriwayo, the school’s Director:
“Today for sure was a joyful and interesting day in the history of the new Katumba Humanist Nursery and Primary School.
Amos Bandaliza a retired primary school head teacher was elected as our PTA committee Chair. In his acceptance speech to the parents and media team, Amos promised to ensure that academic performance and collaboration between teachers and parents were enhanced in the school.
For my part, I presented the newly-elected chairperson with the school’s Humanist values and our Humanist code of conduct, which each teacher must sign when they join the school. I thoroughly explained the implications of Katumba’s Humanist Ethos for the day-to-day conduct of teachers and children. Parents showed a great willingness to support the school’s Humanist values.
Katumba’s newly elected PTA Committee members
I outlined the tremendous support that Katumba had received from Uganda Humanist Schools Trust and read out a speech from Steve Hurd, Chair of UHST, who was unable to travel due to Covid restrictions. The speech explained to parents that UHST is strongly committed to building the school up to a high standard in terms of buildings, facilities, staff support, books and learning materials. Steve congratulated everyone involved with Katumba Humanist School on the progress that has been made over the past 2 years. He intends that Uganda Humanist Schools Trust will be a good friend and partner to the Katumba Community for years to come.”
*Activities for school students based on the 10 Commitments can be found on our Human Studies Resource Bank.
January 10th was a big day in Uganda. The government allowed schools to reopen fully, after the longest continuous period of Covid closure in the world. Investments in school infrastructure funded by Uganda Humanist School Trust during the pandemic are finally able to be used.
There was jubilation in the remote mountain village near the Congo border, when Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School re-opened in brand new buildings. 190 eager children enrolled on the first day and the school hopes for over 300 by the end of the month. A new purpose-built school is a major cause for celebration in this community where life is hard. Local dignitaries and radio journalists attended the opening and reports of the event were broadcast both on local vernacular radio (Development FM) and the main government English-language channel (Uganda Broadcasting Corporation).
First day in class for children at Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School
Kanungu, another hill village near the Congo border which suffered the world’s largest mass killing by a religious cult in the year 2000, also opened a new school. Kanungu Humanist Primary School had an abortive opening in 2021, but this was curtailed by the Covid pandemic. On Monday the school opened afresh with 90 eager children arriving on day 1, 135 by day 4 and new children are pouring in every day as word spreads about the quality of the school buildings, the attractiveness of the site and the high standards of welfare and educational resources. Later in the month, Peter Kisirinya, Chair of the Uganda Humanist Schools Association, will speak during a formal opening ceremony, which a crew from BBC World Service TV will be filming for a programme in the Africa Eye series on the growth of Humanism in Uganda.
Joyous children on their first day at the new Kanungu Humanist Primary School
Two former religious schools bought with funds raised by UHST have reopened as Humanist schools. A former Muslim school reopened as Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School in Busota, with an initial intake of 40 on day 1. They have indications that the number of children may be up to 300 by the end of the month. The evangelical Christian school in the village of Kateera, after a major physical transformation, has reopened as Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School with an initial enrolment of 200, which is growing by the day.
Already 400 students at Isaac Newton Humanist High School have returned to school. At Mustard Seed Humanist Secondary only 140 re-enrolled in week 1, though a further 200-300 have indicated that they intend to return as soon as they have funds to do so. Both schools had 600 students before the pandemic hit.
First day of kindergarten at the Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School
The situation in Uganda over the past two years has been tough and parents and children are anxious to get back to school. However, the lockdown has left scars
Household savings have been depleted so finding money for school fees, school stationery, calculators and other essentials such a footwear and clothing is delaying the return to school.
Many children, especially the many orphans, have been traumatised by being used for forced labour in their villages, and by physical and sexual abuse.
The Uganda government is sending teams around Uganda to sensitise teachers to the need to look out for signs of trauma and to strategies for helping the many children affected. The Humanist schools are doing their best to help by making the schools safe and happy places for the children when they return. Unlike many other schools in Uganda, Isaac Newton High School and the other Humanist schools have made it clear that they will welcome back to school girls who have suffered sexual abuse and become pregnant.
The scale of the problem of getting children back to school is enormous. UHST is working with the schools to find the most effective ways, within the bounds of the resources we have available, to help families meet some of these costs. We are trying to muster meaningful sized pots of money that can be used as hardship funds. The task can seem almost overwhelming as practically all children come from families suffering financial stress.
UHST and the schools are hugely grateful to our supporters for their help in getting the Humanist Schools through the trials of the last two years. I am sure we all wish the schools well in their desire to open minds and empower future generations of young people to create better lives for themselves and the communities from which they come.
Posted: February 2, 2022 by Steve Hurd
BBC Film Crew visits Kanungu
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.”
Posted: January 22, 2022 by Steve Hurd
New Katumba PTA embraces Humanist Commitments
Bringing together parents and teachers at Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School to form a Parent-Teachers Association (PTA) was an important landmark in the school’s development. The school has chosen to place the AHA’s “10 Commitments” at the forefront of its efforts to promote Positive Humanist values in the school and wider community. The 10 Commitments adorn the front wall of the school building. Humanist schools in Uganda are finding that local people embrace this inclusive statement of Humanist values, whatever their religious or personal beliefs. The 10 Commitments are an excellent template for a good school and for a good society.*
Here is an account of the launch of Katumba Humanist School’s Parent-Teacher Association by Juma Irumba Siriwayo, the school’s Director:
“Today for sure was a joyful and interesting day in the history of the new Katumba Humanist Nursery and Primary School.
Amos Bandaliza a retired primary school head teacher was elected as our PTA committee Chair. In his acceptance speech to the parents and media team, Amos promised to ensure that academic performance and collaboration between teachers and parents were enhanced in the school.
For my part, I presented the newly-elected chairperson with the school’s Humanist values and our Humanist code of conduct, which each teacher must sign when they join the school. I thoroughly explained the implications of Katumba’s Humanist Ethos for the day-to-day conduct of teachers and children. Parents showed a great willingness to support the school’s Humanist values.
I outlined the tremendous support that Katumba had received from Uganda Humanist Schools Trust and read out a speech from Steve Hurd, Chair of UHST, who was unable to travel due to Covid restrictions. The speech explained to parents that UHST is strongly committed to building the school up to a high standard in terms of buildings, facilities, staff support, books and learning materials. Steve congratulated everyone involved with Katumba Humanist School on the progress that has been made over the past 2 years. He intends that Uganda Humanist Schools Trust will be a good friend and partner to the Katumba Community for years to come.”
*Activities for school students based on the 10 Commitments can be found on our Human Studies Resource Bank.
Posted: January 15, 2022 by Steve Hurd
Joy as schools reopen
January 10th was a big day in Uganda. The government allowed schools to reopen fully, after the longest continuous period of Covid closure in the world. Investments in school infrastructure funded by Uganda Humanist School Trust during the pandemic are finally able to be used.
There was jubilation in the remote mountain village near the Congo border, when Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School re-opened in brand new buildings. 190 eager children enrolled on the first day and the school hopes for over 300 by the end of the month. A new purpose-built school is a major cause for celebration in this community where life is hard. Local dignitaries and radio journalists attended the opening and reports of the event were broadcast both on local vernacular radio (Development FM) and the main government English-language channel (Uganda Broadcasting Corporation).
Kanungu, another hill village near the Congo border which suffered the world’s largest mass killing by a religious cult in the year 2000, also opened a new school. Kanungu Humanist Primary School had an abortive opening in 2021, but this was curtailed by the Covid pandemic. On Monday the school opened afresh with 90 eager children arriving on day 1, 135 by day 4 and new children are pouring in every day as word spreads about the quality of the school buildings, the attractiveness of the site and the high standards of welfare and educational resources. Later in the month, Peter Kisirinya, Chair of the Uganda Humanist Schools Association, will speak during a formal opening ceremony, which a crew from BBC World Service TV will be filming for a programme in the Africa Eye series on the growth of Humanism in Uganda.
Two former religious schools bought with funds raised by UHST have reopened as Humanist schools. A former Muslim school reopened as Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School in Busota, with an initial intake of 40 on day 1. They have indications that the number of children may be up to 300 by the end of the month. The evangelical Christian school in the village of Kateera, after a major physical transformation, has reopened as Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School with an initial enrolment of 200, which is growing by the day.
Already 400 students at Isaac Newton Humanist High School have returned to school. At Mustard Seed Humanist Secondary only 140 re-enrolled in week 1, though a further 200-300 have indicated that they intend to return as soon as they have funds to do so. Both schools had 600 students before the pandemic hit.
The situation in Uganda over the past two years has been tough and parents and children are anxious to get back to school. However, the lockdown has left scars
The Uganda government is sending teams around Uganda to sensitise teachers to the need to look out for signs of trauma and to strategies for helping the many children affected. The Humanist schools are doing their best to help by making the schools safe and happy places for the children when they return. Unlike many other schools in Uganda, Isaac Newton High School and the other Humanist schools have made it clear that they will welcome back to school girls who have suffered sexual abuse and become pregnant.
The scale of the problem of getting children back to school is enormous. UHST is working with the schools to find the most effective ways, within the bounds of the resources we have available, to help families meet some of these costs. We are trying to muster meaningful sized pots of money that can be used as hardship funds. The task can seem almost overwhelming as practically all children come from families suffering financial stress.
UHST and the schools are hugely grateful to our supporters for their help in getting the Humanist Schools through the trials of the last two years. I am sure we all wish the schools well in their desire to open minds and empower future generations of young people to create better lives for themselves and the communities from which they come.