The 2024 school year in Uganda begins on Monday February 5^th. Between now and then, during the long school vacation, is the perfect time to repair and build.

The Lily van Haelen Hostel, the first girls’ dormitory at Isaac Newton High School, is well over 10 years old. Refurbishment was meant to start a year ago, but we had insufficient funds to pay for it, so work has been repeatedly postponed. Although funds are still tight, there can be no further delay. Work began last week to modernise the building. The main modification is to install ceilings in each room to reduce the transmission of noise and of diseases such as malaria. Repairs will also be made to broken windows, plasterwork and floors, before the dormitories are given a lick of new paint.

The new Isaac Newton Primary School has been bursting at the seams with extra children, who were attracted when it changed from being an Evangelical Christian to a Humanist School. Isaac Newton Humanist School is known for being a happy school where children are safe and do well academically. Primary parents asked Peter Kisirinya, the Isaac Newton Humanist School Director, to bring these attributes to the failed evangelical school which was not liked due to its adherence to rote learning and the use of violence to impose harsh discipline.

Since becoming a Humanist School enrolment has increased from 40 to 250 children. The number of children has now outgrown the facilities. Peter’s chosen solution is to move out the top junior classes, P5, P6 and P7, which will give the nursery and infant children with more space. A few months ago, Peter’s mother sadly died, but she left to the school a piece of land close to the primary school that is perfect for the construction of a junior annex. We received a very generous offer from a UHST supporter to provide the funds to build a 3-classroom Junior Annex. As we can see from the pictures, work began on this a couple of weeks ago and Peter is hoping to have the new classrooms ready for the start of the new school year. 

During 2024, in order to bring the primary school up to the required standards, we will be seeking to raise funds for a school hall, staffrooms and to reorganise the old site to add a decent library and computer room and to create play space for the little children.

A new upbeat report from Irumba Juma Siriwayo.

Katumba Parents Humanist Primary School plays a critical role in meeting the unique needs of the remote Bukonzo community. Our people live in scattered homes in the foothills of the 15,000 ft Ruwenzori Mountains. The nearest town, just 7km away, takes up to 30 minutes by car as the road is broken and tortuous. 

Our school is the only centre of learning in the area. It first opened in temporary buildings in 2015 and we moved to a new purpose-built school, funded by UHST, in January 2021. Our school has become the heart of our community:

1. It educates 750 primary age children in the national curriculum.
2. Our teachers and children keep alive the music, dance and drama traditions of the area.
3. We nurture a sense of belonging and community.
4. Through the employment it provides and the goods and services it buys from the local community our school is accelerating economic development in an area that was stagnant economically.

Former students, from the early days of our school, are starting to make their mark in the community. Many moved on to secondary school in Bundibugyo or further away as boarders. Some of those have also completed college courses. Eight of our early students have now returned to teach in our new primary school. Two others are teaching in secondary schools elsewhere. One former student works as a nurse in the local health centre. Another student has become a local Agricultural Extension Services Officer.

Parents have been so happy with the Humanist Ethos of our school that they have chosen to send their children to Humanist Secondary Schools in other parts of the country. They have been assisted with scholarships provided by UHST supporters and by members of the Ethical Society of St Louis. When the new school year starts in February 2024 we will have students in the following Senior classes at Humanist High Schools:

In 2023 four students completed their Uganda Certificate in Education (Ordinary level) at Isaac Newton Humanist High School and are awaiting their results.

Katumba School provides direct employment to 16 teachers, and 6 ancillary staff including a bursar, cook and caretaker. A local lady runs a school tuck shop which sells small items to staff, children and local people. Another local lady earns a living by cutting firewood and selling it to the school for cooking school lunches. During the building phase of the school many local people were employed in various building trades and in supplying building materials. Now the school is up and running it buys food from local farmers and local people bring fruit and other small items into school to sell. UHST has provided funds to the local council to improve road access to the school, to lay on piped water and to extend mains electricity. These all bring significant benefits to the local community. 

Moses Kamya has written this reflection on Mustard Seed Humanist School alumni as it moves towards the end of its second decade. When children leave, it is often difficult to keep track of them. Moses, the school’s Headteacher Director has much anecdotal evidence of how the school has changed the lifepaths of many former students.

“Since our school opened, over 200 former students have joined higher institutions of learning to study for degree and diploma courses. Some dropped out due to financial reasons, but many have graduated and found good jobs. Our young people feel strong ties with home. Many return and find jobs locally, others work in towns but visit home regularly and provide financial support to younger siblings and older parents. 

Martin Ahimbisibwe, who gained a BSc in Engineering from Kampala University four years ago, has a good job working as an engineer with a private construction firm in Kampala. Many of our former students gained government scholarships to train as teachers and health workers. 

After completing his teacher training and gaining a few years’ experience, Rogers Muwanguzi founded his own school, Eagle’s View Humanist Primary School, in Kaiira, Buwenge District of Jinja. Inspired by the Humanist values he learned during his time at Mustard Seed School, Rogers had no hesitation in founding his own school based upon those same principles.

Hellen Kisaakye, like many other former girls and boys, went away to train as a nurse. She now has a fulfilling job in a government health centre in Buyikwe district, a short distance from home across the River Nile bridge. 

15 of our current teachers are former Mustard Seed students. The latest to join our staff are: Hellen Namaganda, teaching Agriculture after gaining a BSc in Agriculture, Mukasa Saidat, teaching Economics with a BA in Business Education, Andrew Nyago, teaching Mathematics and Physics and Ochan Mathias, teaching  Biology and Chemistry.

We also have former students who study part time to gain their qualifications while earning money from teaching with us. Matege Conelius is pursuing a BA in English Language Studies at Busitema University and Owen Kafambe is taking a BSc in Education with Biology anď Chemistry at Kampala University. They are keen to pass on their joy of learning and to give something back to the school having been assisted by scholarships from UHST supporters to go through school. 

Other former students who have recently done well at university include: Joan Mukisa, our former Head Girl, who has gained a BA LLB in Law from the top Law School in the country at Makerere University. Joan is now extending her studies into the specialist field of Forensic Digital Law. Mutiibwa Isaac is close to completing a Batchelor in Commerce BCOM at Nkumba University.

It is heartwarming to see how the school has transformed so many young lives.
We are grateful to the many UHST Supporters who have made this possible.”