By:  Jean Blessing

RWAMPARA

Kinoni High School celebrated 25 years of service as a Private Secondary School, marked by consistent and successful educational outcomes. The Silver Jubilee celebration took place at the school, located in Rwampara District.

The School Director, John Muhumuza, expressed his appreciation to the stakeholders, his co-director, various headteachers who have worked with the school, teachers, support staff, and all those who have supported the institution, enabling it to produce engineers, doctors, lawyers, pilots, teachers, and accountants. He also thanked the alumni for taking the time to attend and be part of the celebration.

Hon. Alice Kaboyo (right) receiving a painted Portrait from a student during the celebrations

Muhumuza noted that the current state of the school is the result of persistence, which has enabled them to overcome numerous challenges and gradually improve over time. ‘We take two steps forward and one step backward,’ he said, highlighting the steady progress the school has made.   He also commended the government for its favorable policies, which have created an environment that allows them to carry out their work smoothly such as the provision of books and guidance in managing school operations.

Additionally, he appreciated the students for contributing towards the construction of the new science laboratory, noting that the account currently holds over 9 million shillings, Muhumuza also acknowledged those who donated various items to support the school science laboratory project.

State Minister for Luwero-Rwenzori Hon. Alice Kaboyo, who officiated the Silver Jubilee celebration, commended the parents and all community members who have worked together to support Kinoni High School. She noted that the services provided by the school complement government efforts by bridging gaps in areas where government services may not yet have reached.

The Minister joined the students and School Proprietors for a group photo

Speaking on the broader education system, the Minister highlighted the government’s significant investment in public education providing scholastic materials, constructing schools, and supporting students while acknowledging that budget limitations can sometimes affect full implementation. She emphasized that the government has also created a conducive environment for private schools to thrive.

Minister Kaboyo praised the school Directors for taking advantage of favorable government policies to establish Kinoni High School, which has greatly contributed to the country’s education system and the development of Rwampala and Uganda as a whole.  She remarked that the school holds a special place in the history of Ankole, having consistently produced leaders, and it is no surprise that Mr. John Muhumuza and his wife Asiimwe Muhumuza were the visionaries behind its founding.

The Minister urged the people of Rwampara, particularly the youth, to seize every opportunity available to improve their lives and communities. She pledged a personal contribution of 5 million shillings and an additional 5 million shillings from the Micro Projects fund to support the ongoing construction of the school’s science laboratory.”

The Vice District Chairperson of Rwampara, Mr. Jackson, appreciated the strong relationship within the District, which has enabled collaborative development. He noted that Rwampala District benefits not only from the employment opportunities created by Kinoni High School but also from the local revenue it generates, adding that the town of Kinoni is thriving largely because of the school.  He commended the students of Kinoni High School for raising the district’s profile through their discipline and academic excellence.

However, he reported that construction on one of the school buildings is currently at a standstill due to a directive from NEMA, which claims the structure is being built in a wetland. He mentioned that they are still awaiting NEMA’s report to determine the way forward and called on the area Member of Parliament to intervene so that construction can resume.  On behalf of the district, he contributed 200,000 shillings towards the progress of the science laboratory project.

The Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Nakamya, revealed to the Minister that Rwampara District has a population of 162,967 people, with women outnumbering men. The district comprises 2 constituencies, 4 sub-counties, 4 town councils, 29 parishes, and 243 villages. She also emphasized that Rwampala is recognized as an NRM stronghold.

Mr. Muhumuza and his wide, the Proprietors of the School addressing the congregation during the celebrations

She commended the School Director for founding the school, the parents for entrusting their children to it, the Board of Governors, and all others who have supported the institution. She further revealed that over the past 25 years, the school’s Directors have successfully established strong infrastructure capable of accommodating over 1,270 students a significant achievement that reflects their patriotism through the provision of quality education, job creation, and the nurturing of well-disciplined, academically excellent students.

She also praised the school for participating in the one-week patriotic training program for Secondary Schools in Rwampara District, which involved students from Senior One to Senior Six at the beginning of this term.

Nakamya expressed her gratitude to the NRM government for creating a favorable working environment that has enabled the school to thrive. She encouraged the school’s alumni to take advantage of government development programs such as Emyooga and the Parish Development Model (PDM) to better their lives.  She concluded by reminding the community about the ongoing National ID renewal exercise and urged everyone to ensure they obtain their updated identification cards.

The Member of Parliament for Rwampara County Amos Kankunda expressed appreciation to the local community for creating a friendly and supportive environment that has allowed the school to operate smoothly. The MP also commended the Minister for her positive response to his request for support to the people of the area. He noted that she invested 120 million shillings into the Parish Community Associations across all parishes. He further emphasized the need to initiate more development projects to uplift the livelihoods of the people in the region.

END