Over the past two years, Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UHST) has been funding the construction of a new school for the children and parents of the Katumba community. The project has helped to consign to history the troubles of 2016, in which 100 fathers were killed.
After much hard work in the face of many setbacks, the school opens a year early. What follows is an account of the opening ceremony, held on Saturday 8th January, written by Juma Irumba Siriwayo, Chair of the Parents’ Management Committee.
Katumba opening: Presentation of mattress to girl winning scholarship to attend Isaac Newton Humanist High School
“Saturday was a special day for the parents, children and the wider community of Katumba in Bundibugyo District. They were delighted to see their school opening in new brick-built buildings on a safe, dry site.
Present at the opening ceremony was the District Councillor Hon Muganzi, a parent who has worked tirelessly to support the school. He has provided building materials on credit whenever we ran out of cash. As Managing Director, I welcomed the community to the school and read a speech from Steve Hurd, Chair of UHST, who was not able to be with us for the opening due to Covid travel difficulties. Mr Kagaruke the senior District inspector of schools replied as our chief guest. He hailed the entire UHST team for their commendable work in supporting such an important educational initiative in this previously neglected and remote rural area. Mr Kagaruke thanked UHST and its supporters for fulfilling the dream of our community for a decent school that will educate of our underprivileged children. He thanked UHST for the amazing provision of scholarships to enable the 6 best Primary Leaving Examination candidates from 2020 to move on to Isaac Newton Humanist High School, in Masaka District, for their secondary schooling. We presented the successful students with mattresses for beds in school dormitories and some scholastic materials. Their teachers were each given 100,000 Ush bonuses in recognition of the dedication in supporting the students with home study during the Covid lockdown. We were delighted to have the presence of former students from 2018 and 2019 who spoke well of being scholarship students at Isaac Newton School.
Mr Kagaruke said UHST supporters were the great heroes of Katumba Parents Humanist School. Everyone felt that, with UHST support, standards had risen and would continue to rise in years to come. They appreciated the fact that children now had books and other learning resources, that had previously been absent. This is bound to improve educational outcomes. We look forward to the completion and equipping of the new library building and of the computer room, which will put Katumba ahead of other schools in the District.”
On Monday 10th January Katumba School opened along with other schools in Uganda. This is Juma’s account:
“The first day was very fantastic with an enrolment of 190 pupils. There are so many in the nursery section that we shall need to buy more furniture. The opening of Katumba School was a very big event in Bundibugyo District. Media teams from national and local radio visited the school to witness the first day, including Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Radio and Bundibugyo Development FM (DFM). Our children and teachers shared a lot of interesting stories and told the journalists how happy they were with the new school and the high academic standards it was already achieving. Our school opened with 18 teaching and 4 non-teaching staff, including the bursar, askari, nurse and 2 cooks. Most of our children lacked uniforms and many parents were asking to pay school fees in arrears, which presents the school with severe cash-flow problems from the start.”
Children working in groups on first school day
Building the new Katumba School was envisaged as a 3-year project. We are delighted that is has become useable a year early. Though there is further work to be done as resources become available. Plastering and painting the primary 5, 6 and 7 classrooms is the next priority followed by purchasing an extra plot of land and fencing the school. These, other finishing work and the purchase of outside playground equipment and more books and educational toys and games will require us to raise a further £10,000. Once everything is finished, the new school will begin to make a huge contribution to the social and economic improvement of a very remote community for whom life is challenging in so many ways.
Nursery children’s first school day – needing furniture
Back to serious work for Primary Leaving Exam children
Here is a story of a former Humanist School student who has returned after further training to help his school and community.
Samuel Ssebuline was a former student of Isaac Newton School who has returned to the school as a teacher after gaining a degree in Agriculture. After advising local farmers, who are members of the Isaac Newton Cooperative, on how to improve their yields Samuel has been offered a place on Makerere University’s Masters Course in Crop Science. All he has to do now is raise money for his course fees. This is Samuel’s story:
I was born in 1996 into a poor family of subsistence farmers in Gomba district. We used to produce food for our own consumption and earn an irregular cash income from occasional food surpluses. With 8 children to support and despite my parents’ best efforts, our family struggled to pay our primary school fees. In lower primary I was partially helped by a local leader, who recognised my potential. By the time I reached primary 6 in 2008, my mother became a single parent. Still having 5 children at home, life was a serious struggle. The only option for me was to join a free government primary school under the “universal primary education” program. However, this school and many others of the same category face extreme underfunding and so classes were as big as 150. Notwithstanding, I worked hard and scored a First Grade in my Primary Leaving Exam in 2009. Upon finishing my primary level, my mother enrolled me in a government-aided secondary school but, unable to meet even the half fees required, I was forced to withdraw in 2010.
At this point, Mr. Ezra Mulwana, Headteacher of Isaac Newton Humanist High School, heard of my unfortunate condition and offered me a full UHST boarding scholarship, funded by Birmingham Humanists in the UK. This lifeline removed the burden of worry and enabled me to complete 4 years of schooling and to take O-level examinations in the Uganda Certificate in Education. I was the best performing student in my year and gained a highly sought-after overall First Grade, awarded to only 6% of students nationwide.
Given the above outstanding performance, my UHST scholarship was extended to enable me to take A levels in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and subsidiary Computing and General Studies. My grades of a B in Mathematics and two Cs in Biology and Chemistry made me eligible for a coveted government scholarship to the top university in Uganda, Makerere.
In Uganda, there is practically a year between taking A-level and being admitted to university. As a payback to the school and to help my fellow students during this period, I volunteered as a teaching assistant at Isaac Newton Humanist High School teaching Biology and Chemistry. During this period, l was delighted when I eventually heard that I had won a place at Makerere, Uganda’s top university to study for a 4-year degree in Agriculture. Although the course was full time and in Kampala, I travelled back to the school every weekend to continue with my voluntary work and providing extra teaching assistance to students. The school was facilitating my transport costs to and from the school during such days, but I had to make up the time by studying into the small hours on weekday evenings.
On the 15th of May last year (2021), my efforts paid off. I graduated as one of the top four Agriculture students in my year, with a rare upper second-class honours Degree from Makerere University, Uganda’s top institution of higher education. The final year courses capacitated me to contribute to Uganda’s economic development. These included: entomology, nematology, plant breeding, crop disease, animal nutrition and health, dairying, poultry, apiculture, pathology, soil management, marketing & principles of management etc. My course marks ranged from 71 to 91%, just short of a 1st class honours, which are awarded very sparingly in Uganda. This success delighted my teachers, fellow students, my mother, siblings and indeed the whole community around.
Currently, the Isaac Newton Humanist Cooperative is drawing upon my new-found knowledge to enable farmers in the District to implement various projects to boost their productivity and incomes.
I applied and have just been offered a place at Makerere University to undertake a Masters in Crop Science (MCRP) so that I can qualify for a high-level position in the agriculture sector. All I must do now is raise the fees of 5.6 million Uganda Shillings (£1,200). If I take the course part time, I will be able to pay at least a good part of the fees from what I earn as a teacher at Isaac Newton. In Uganda free education at post-secondary level is only offered to academically excellent students and only at Bachelors (First degree) level. All postgraduate courses are fully privately sponsored. The knowledge and skills from the course will allow me to contribute even more to the sustainable development of my community.
For many, 2021 has been a year to forget. Ugandan schools have been closed more than they have been open. Many have been forced into bankruptcy but, thanks to the ongoing commitment of UHST supporters, the Humanist Schools are still here. Unlike many charities, UHST donations grew in 2021. Our supporters raised their standing orders and responded generously to two appeals for help. Bequests from two donors who had sadly passed away and large donations from an individual supporter have made it possible to maintain forward momentum. When the pandemic started, UHST was providing substantial support to Isaac Newton and Mustard Seed high schools and starting to build new primary schools for the distressed communities of Katumba and Kanungu. Two years later the high schools and one primary school are finished and looking great, the new Katumba School is close to completion, and we have bought and refurbished primary feeder schools for the two high schools.
Children at the new Kanungu Humanist Primary School
Uses of generous donations from UHST supporters
Covid-emergency payments have enabled the schools to keep their heads above water financially.
Schools have retained most of their teaching teams thanks to furlough payments of up to 50% to permanent staff and food parcels to casual staff.
We have made schools safe with hand-washing stations, infra-red thermometers, hand-gel and disinfectant, anti-mosquito paint and improved toilet facilities.
Despite the closures, the schools have had additional money for books, science and other learning materials, to support a humanist-education philosophy which promotes self-directed learning and learning by doing. They have also had specific help to buy home-study materials to enable students to continue their studies from home while schools have been closed.
Peter Kisirinya and a colleague taking home-study kits to Isaac Newton children during a Covid closure
We have continued to provide sanitary pads for girls when they have been in school.
Small sums of money have enabled all the schools to press on with the Humanist Schools Tree Planting Project to make the schools pleasanter and greener places and to heighten awareness of the climate crisis.
We have provided funds to maintain and develop their infrastructure so that the schools are in a good state for reopening:
Isaac Newton Humanist High School: classroom and dining hall furniture, site drainage, walkways and retaining walls, repairs and painting.
Mustard Seed Humanist Secondary School: repairs to ceilings, walls, windows, doors and repainting, emptying of latrines and improvements to pathways and gardens.
Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School: approaching completion of this entirely new school. Current work is being undertaken on a cook house, food store and sleeping quarters for a school cook. All that remains is to fence the site and to carry out finishing and painting works.
Kanungu Humanist Primary School: this new school is finished and in a fine state for receiving a new intake of children in January. The site is looking wonderful.
Parents of Kateera lobbying Isaac Newton Humanist School to take over the failed Evangelical Christian School
New Humanist Schools
We have bought and refurbished two former religious primary schools which could not survive the loss of income during the Covid closures.
Isaac Newton Humanist Primary School has been created from a failed Evangelical Christian School, which might have become a madrasa. In 2021 we bought the entire school for £25,000, paid for new toilets, cook house, the addition of a kindergarten and the complete refurbishment of the site.
A failed Muslim primary school has been purchased and turned into Mustard Seed Humanist Primary School. A fine new kitchen has been added, new toilets and refurbishing work is close to completion.
An encouraging development in 2021 has been the establishment of new Humanist Schools by former students and teachers from our two high schools:
A former student of Mustard Seed Humanist Secondary School, Rogers Muwanguzi, has set up Eagle’s View Humanist Primary School at Buwenge, between Kamuli and Jinja. After attending Mustard Seed School as a student, Rogers returned there as a part-time teacher. He is so committed to the Humanist philosophy that he has now set up his own school based on those principles.
A former student taught by Peter Kisirinya, Joseph Kamulegeya, was appointed as a part-time teacher at Isaac Newton School after gaining a degree in Physics and Chemistry and training as a teacher. He was so inspired by the Humanist ethos of the school that he has established Classical Senior Humanist School in his home village of Nzizi, Lwengo, between Masaka and Mbarara.
We hope to visit these schools on our next visit to Uganda and, if they meet the requirements, bring them into the fold with the other Humanist schools.
BBC Interest in the Humanist Schools
Two days ago, I had a lengthy interview with a Journalist from the Panorama team who is taking a film crew to Uganda in January to make a film about the Humanist School Movement for BBC World Service TVs “Africa Eye” Series. They intend to film at Isaac Newton School, as the first Humanist School in the world; at Kanungu School, as a school rising from the ashes of the horrendous 2000 massacre and at Mustard Seed School, where Christian pastors are choosing to educate their children in preference to a readily available Christian alternative. The BBC’s interest is an indication how the Humanist schools are beginning to make a mark and will help to widen awareness of the work of the schools and the impact of their work which we are all supporting.
Your Donations are Making a Difference
Isaac Newton and Mustard Seed Humanist High Schools are gaining growing recognition for their high standards of educational achievement and for being happy places where conditions of welfare for students and teachers are good. They are gradually becoming the schools of choice in their areas. Our aim is to expand support for other Humanist Schools, but at a rate which ensures that each of the schools has a sufficient level of support to stand out as a beacon for humanism in its community.
The job of creating a fine school is never finished. We see no reason why the Humanist Schools should not be able to survive without ongoing support from UHST. However, our commitment to the schools is a long-term one. So long as we have your support, we will do our best to raise funds to enable the humanist schools to achieve even higher standards of education and welfare and, in so doing, to contribute to rising living standards for the communities living around them and to promote the Humanist values of reason, compassion and tolerance.
UHST and the Humanist Schools are very grateful to you for your support, which is transforming the life-chances of many individual children, their families and the challenged communities in which they live.
Steve Hurd Chairperson
UGANDA HUMANIST SCHOOLS TRUST Inclusive education based on reason, compassion, tolerance
All administration costs, including trips to Uganda to visit the schools, are paid for on a personal basis by our trustees, so every £1 donated by our supporters goes to help the schools in Uganda.
Posted: January 11, 2022 by Steve Hurd
Katumba parents are delighted with their new school
Over the past two years, Uganda Humanist Schools Trust (UHST) has been funding the construction of a new school for the children and parents of the Katumba community. The project has helped to consign to history the troubles of 2016, in which 100 fathers were killed.
After much hard work in the face of many setbacks, the school opens a year early. What follows is an account of the opening ceremony, held on Saturday 8th January, written by Juma Irumba Siriwayo, Chair of the Parents’ Management Committee.
“Saturday was a special day for the parents, children and the wider community of Katumba in Bundibugyo District. They were delighted to see their school opening in new brick-built buildings on a safe, dry site.
Present at the opening ceremony was the District Councillor Hon Muganzi, a parent who has worked tirelessly to support the school. He has provided building materials on credit whenever we ran out of cash. As Managing Director, I welcomed the community to the school and read a speech from Steve Hurd, Chair of UHST, who was not able to be with us for the opening due to Covid travel difficulties. Mr Kagaruke the senior District inspector of schools replied as our chief guest. He hailed the entire UHST team for their commendable work in supporting such an important educational initiative in this previously neglected and remote rural area. Mr Kagaruke thanked UHST and its supporters for fulfilling the dream of our community for a decent school that will educate of our underprivileged children. He thanked UHST for the amazing provision of scholarships to enable the 6 best Primary Leaving Examination candidates from 2020 to move on to Isaac Newton Humanist High School, in Masaka District, for their secondary schooling. We presented the successful students with mattresses for beds in school dormitories and some scholastic materials. Their teachers were each given 100,000 Ush bonuses in recognition of the dedication in supporting the students with home study during the Covid lockdown. We were delighted to have the presence of former students from 2018 and 2019 who spoke well of being scholarship students at Isaac Newton School.
Mr Kagaruke said UHST supporters were the great heroes of Katumba Parents Humanist School. Everyone felt that, with UHST support, standards had risen and would continue to rise in years to come. They appreciated the fact that children now had books and other learning resources, that had previously been absent. This is bound to improve educational outcomes. We look forward to the completion and equipping of the new library building and of the computer room, which will put Katumba ahead of other schools in the District.”
On Monday 10th January Katumba School opened along with other schools in Uganda. This is Juma’s account:
“The first day was very fantastic with an enrolment of 190 pupils. There are so many in the nursery section that we shall need to buy more furniture. The opening of Katumba School was a very big event in Bundibugyo District. Media teams from national and local radio visited the school to witness the first day, including Uganda Broadcasting Corporation (UBC) Radio and Bundibugyo Development FM (DFM). Our children and teachers shared a lot of interesting stories and told the journalists how happy they were with the new school and the high academic standards it was already achieving. Our school opened with 18 teaching and 4 non-teaching staff, including the bursar, askari, nurse and 2 cooks. Most of our children lacked uniforms and many parents were asking to pay school fees in arrears, which presents the school with severe cash-flow problems from the start.”
Building the new Katumba School was envisaged as a 3-year project. We are delighted that is has become useable a year early. Though there is further work to be done as resources become available. Plastering and painting the primary 5, 6 and 7 classrooms is the next priority followed by purchasing an extra plot of land and fencing the school. These, other finishing work and the purchase of outside playground equipment and more books and educational toys and games will require us to raise a further £10,000. Once everything is finished, the new school will begin to make a huge contribution to the social and economic improvement of a very remote community for whom life is challenging in so many ways.
Posted: January 6, 2022 by Steve Hurd
Story of an Isaac Newton Teacher
Here is a story of a former Humanist School student who has returned after further training to help his school and community.
Samuel Ssebuline was a former student of Isaac Newton School who has returned to the school as a teacher after gaining a degree in Agriculture. After advising local farmers, who are members of the Isaac Newton Cooperative, on how to improve their yields Samuel has been offered a place on Makerere University’s Masters Course in Crop Science. All he has to do now is raise money for his course fees. This is Samuel’s story:
I was born in 1996 into a poor family of subsistence farmers in Gomba district. We used to produce food for our own consumption and earn an irregular cash income from occasional food surpluses. With 8 children to support and despite my parents’ best efforts, our family struggled to pay our primary school fees. In lower primary I was partially helped by a local leader, who recognised my potential. By the time I reached primary 6 in 2008, my mother became a single parent. Still having 5 children at home, life was a serious struggle. The only option for me was to join a free government primary school under the “universal primary education” program. However, this school and many others of the same category face extreme underfunding and so classes were as big as 150. Notwithstanding, I worked hard and scored a First Grade in my Primary Leaving Exam in 2009. Upon finishing my primary level, my mother enrolled me in a government-aided secondary school but, unable to meet even the half fees required, I was forced to withdraw in 2010.
At this point, Mr. Ezra Mulwana, Headteacher of Isaac Newton Humanist High School, heard of my unfortunate condition and offered me a full UHST boarding scholarship, funded by Birmingham Humanists in the UK. This lifeline removed the burden of worry and enabled me to complete 4 years of schooling and to take O-level examinations in the Uganda Certificate in Education. I was the best performing student in my year and gained a highly sought-after overall First Grade, awarded to only 6% of students nationwide.
Given the above outstanding performance, my UHST scholarship was extended to enable me to take A levels in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and subsidiary Computing and General Studies. My grades of a B in Mathematics and two Cs in Biology and Chemistry made me eligible for a coveted government scholarship to the top university in Uganda, Makerere.
In Uganda, there is practically a year between taking A-level and being admitted to university. As a payback to the school and to help my fellow students during this period, I volunteered as a teaching assistant at Isaac Newton Humanist High School teaching Biology and Chemistry. During this period, l was delighted when I eventually heard that I had won a place at Makerere, Uganda’s top university to study for a 4-year degree in Agriculture. Although the course was full time and in Kampala, I travelled back to the school every weekend to continue with my voluntary work and providing extra teaching assistance to students. The school was facilitating my transport costs to and from the school during such days, but I had to make up the time by studying into the small hours on weekday evenings.
On the 15th of May last year (2021), my efforts paid off. I graduated as one of the top four Agriculture students in my year, with a rare upper second-class honours Degree from Makerere University, Uganda’s top institution of higher education. The final year courses capacitated me to contribute to Uganda’s economic development. These included: entomology, nematology, plant breeding, crop disease, animal nutrition and health, dairying, poultry, apiculture, pathology, soil management, marketing & principles of management etc. My course marks ranged from 71 to 91%, just short of a 1st class honours, which are awarded very sparingly in Uganda. This success delighted my teachers, fellow students, my mother, siblings and indeed the whole community around.
Currently, the Isaac Newton Humanist Cooperative is drawing upon my new-found knowledge to enable farmers in the District to implement various projects to boost their productivity and incomes.
I applied and have just been offered a place at Makerere University to undertake a Masters in Crop Science (MCRP) so that I can qualify for a high-level position in the agriculture sector. All I must do now is raise the fees of 5.6 million Uganda Shillings (£1,200). If I take the course part time, I will be able to pay at least a good part of the fees from what I earn as a teacher at Isaac Newton. In Uganda free education at post-secondary level is only offered to academically excellent students and only at Bachelors (First degree) level. All postgraduate courses are fully privately sponsored. The knowledge and skills from the course will allow me to contribute even more to the sustainable development of my community.
Posted: December 20, 2021 by Steve Hurd
Humanist Schools Review 2021
A year of progress in the face of adversity
For many, 2021 has been a year to forget. Ugandan schools have been closed more than they have been open. Many have been forced into bankruptcy but, thanks to the ongoing commitment of UHST supporters, the Humanist Schools are still here. Unlike many charities, UHST donations grew in 2021. Our supporters raised their standing orders and responded generously to two appeals for help. Bequests from two donors who had sadly passed away and large donations from an individual supporter have made it possible to maintain forward momentum. When the pandemic started, UHST was providing substantial support to Isaac Newton and Mustard Seed high schools and starting to build new primary schools for the distressed communities of Katumba and Kanungu. Two years later the high schools and one primary school are finished and looking great, the new Katumba School is close to completion, and we have bought and refurbished primary feeder schools for the two high schools.
Uses of generous donations from UHST supporters
New Humanist Schools
We have bought and refurbished two former religious primary schools which could not survive the loss of income during the Covid closures.
An encouraging development in 2021 has been the establishment of new Humanist Schools by former students and teachers from our two high schools:
We hope to visit these schools on our next visit to Uganda and, if they meet the requirements, bring them into the fold with the other Humanist schools.
BBC Interest in the Humanist Schools
Two days ago, I had a lengthy interview with a Journalist from the Panorama team who is taking a film crew to Uganda in January to make a film about the Humanist School Movement for BBC World Service TVs “Africa Eye” Series. They intend to film at Isaac Newton School, as the first Humanist School in the world; at Kanungu School, as a school rising from the ashes of the horrendous 2000 massacre and at Mustard Seed School, where Christian pastors are choosing to educate their children in preference to a readily available Christian alternative. The BBC’s interest is an indication how the Humanist schools are beginning to make a mark and will help to widen awareness of the work of the schools and the impact of their work which we are all supporting.
Your Donations are Making a Difference
Isaac Newton and Mustard Seed Humanist High Schools are gaining growing recognition for their high standards of educational achievement and for being happy places where conditions of welfare for students and teachers are good. They are gradually becoming the schools of choice in their areas. Our aim is to expand support for other Humanist Schools, but at a rate which ensures that each of the schools has a sufficient level of support to stand out as a beacon for humanism in its community.
The job of creating a fine school is never finished. We see no reason why the Humanist Schools should not be able to survive without ongoing support from UHST. However, our commitment to the schools is a long-term one. So long as we have your support, we will do our best to raise funds to enable the humanist schools to achieve even higher standards of education and welfare and, in so doing, to contribute to rising living standards for the communities living around them and to promote the Humanist values of reason, compassion and tolerance.
UHST and the Humanist Schools are very grateful to you for your support, which is transforming the life-chances of many individual children, their families and the challenged communities in which they live.
Steve Hurd
Chairperson
UGANDA HUMANIST SCHOOLS TRUST
Inclusive education based on reason, compassion, tolerance
https://ugandahumanistschoolstrust.org
https://humanstudies.education
https://www.facebook.com/ugandahumanistschoolstrust
+44 (0) 1782 750338
All administration costs, including trips to Uganda to visit the schools, are paid for on a personal basis by our trustees, so every £1 donated by our supporters goes to help the schools in Uganda.
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