Head teachers of Catholic founded secondary school in Kabale Diocese under their umbrella Association of Catholic Education Institutions (ACEI) on Thursday, March 13, 2025 completed their two day seminar which was hosted by St. Ignatius University Kabale (IGUKA). The seminar intended to help the head teachers evaluate their 2024 performance and lay strategies for better performance in 2025.
While giving the welcome remarks to St. Ignatius University, Dr. Diana Kwarikunda, the Deputy Vice Chancellor expressed heartfelt gratitude to the teachers for their collaborative efforts in promoting St. Ignatius University Kabale while underscoring the unity existing between the university and secondary schools in Kabale Diocese.
The chairperson of ACEI, Mr. Katongore Kereson who doubles as head teacher of St. Agatha Girls’ Kakore thanked the Catholic Church for always supporting schools and pledged continued cooperation. He noted that 57 Catholic head teachers and rectors of the 3 minor seminaries were present for the meeting which engaged members in various discussions including Procedure of Declaring of Assets and Liabilities by the office of IGG, presentation by Secondary Science and Mathematics Teachers (SESEMAT), St. Ignatius University Kabale and the Vicar General of Kabale Diocese. He urged them to continue being ambassadors of the Catholic identity in the world.
Mr. Willy Turyahikahe, the Assistant Education Secretary in charge of catechism in schools of Kabale Diocese thanked the head teachers for their cooperation with the education office and for the uplifting of Catholic identity in the schools. He said that each Catholic school now has a Vatican flag and sign post for easy identification alongside other requirements like each Catholic school having a patron saint name for emulation. He also reminded the head teachers to make sure schools participate in the activities prepared for the celebration of Jubilee Year 2025 under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ especially in terms of singing the Jubilee hymn and reciting the Jubilee Prayer.
He also informed them of the Education Week supervised by the Uganda Episcopal Conference that will be carried out in Kabale and Kasese Diocese Dioceses. However, he expressed worry and concerns about the education of a boy child who every now and then continues to drop out of school.
The Kabale Diocesan Education Secretary, Mr. Remigio Byamukama expressed appreciation to the Vicar General for leading a supervisory role for the Diocesan schools and was happy with the Diocesan schools for registering success in last year’s Uganda National Education Board (UNEB) results. He thanked the head teachers for the good work being done and called on the school authorities to cooperate with the parish administrators this bringing about smooth running of school activities and policing.
He noted that schools belong to the foundation bodies, though the government supports by providing the funding aspect, thereby encouraging all education committees in all districts to sit and make programs of making visits and inspections to all schools within their jurisdiction.
Visit schools and institutions where students under Bishop’s scheme are in order to make follow-up of the beneficiaries, encouraging them. Parents or guardians of the beneficiaries should also be invited to meet with the committees and the fruits of their interactions will be positive – Mr. Remigio Byamukama, Kabale Diocesan Education Secretary.
Mr. Remigio also used the opportunity to encourage head teachers and their staff to pursue further studies. This will help the head teachers to allocate responsibilities depending on competencies and subsequent leadership of the respective school(s) so that no vacuum is created.
Speaking as a special guest, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General Kabale Diocese who doubles as the moderator of all institutions within the Diocese delivered greetings from the Bishop who appreciates the work being done in schools. He also appreciated the Diocesan Education Secretary, Mr. Remigio Byamukama for his availability and hard work plus the collaboration. He applauded the head teachers for their sacrifice and efforts put in for the betterment of schools.
He congratulated the head teachers upon the good performance of 2024 UNEB results in general. He used the opportunity to remind them to evaluate themselves and make necessary improvement, and this evaluation will create a positive impact. He encouraged them to develop an ability to groom leaders since their success depends on how well they groom others to take over. There should be an element of sustainability.
We are lucky this year St. Ignatius University Kabale is offering education program on degree and diploma level for Primary education and in April we shall have the same program for secondary Education. Use this opportunity to better yourselves and attain more qualifications – Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General Kabale Diocese.
He concluded by noting that all Diocesan school land should have land title since Land in the Diocese belongs to the Registered Trustees of Kabale Diocese. He invited head teachers to the priestly Golden Jubilee celebrations of Bishop Callist Rubaramira scheduled on May 18, 2025 because he has supported schools in the Diocese and so it’s time to celebrate with him. The meeting was concluded with a party welcoming new head teachers and bidding farewell to Sr. Gladys Kachope, former head teacher of Immaculate Heart Girls’ Nyakibale.