MASAKA — St. Henry’s College Kitovu (SHACK) has announced plans to establish community skilling center that will see female students also admitted in the school.
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The Headmaster of School Bro. Augustine, Mugabo revealed that the school is moving to integrate soft skills and vocational courses targeting all categories of people, including female students.
He said the Community Skilling Center is intended to give back to the community and empower them with different skills.
“In order to commemorate the 100 years of existence, we felt the community skilling center is something that will last forever. It is a way of giving back to the community, the community of the whole country, the whole world”.
He said that the anniversary will be used to raise more funds for the construction of a community training center where the vocational skills training classes will be conducted.
He disclosed that out of the Shs3.5 billion needed, Shs700 million has been raised from old students and other well-wishers.
“The facility will be used to offer short courses in tailoring, baking, carpentry, soap making, and accountancy, among other soft skills, as a direct contribution to the community through the provision of survival skills, especially to the less privileged children,” he said.
The centennial celebration slated for July this year.
In September 1922, Adrian Laberge, a Canadian missionary of the White Fathers and a disciple of Cardinal Lavigerie, founded St. Henry’s College Kitovu.
It lies about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi), by road, from the suburb of Nyendo, atop the Kitovu Hill near the Kitovu Catholic Cathedral.
The main school campus covers a large expanse of land. The School has a population of over 1,000 students.
The pioneer students came from the Lubaga School, which was also under the direction of the White Fathers. The beginnings were very humble, with three simple buildings of sun-dried bricks serving as classrooms and dormitories.
The new institution was blessed by Bishop Henry Streicher, and it was placed under the protection of Saint Henry, patron of the Vicar Apostolic of Uganda.
During the next five years, the school was led by Father Laberge, with the help of Damasus Mukasa and the help of some other local men.
The good progress of the school attracted the attention of the religious and civil authorities, increasing its profile. As it grew, the school needed more land for expansion. Ignatius Lule of Nyendo offered his land on top of Kitovu Hill.
Charles Jules Poitras, founder and Superior of the Brothers in Uganda, visited the school accompanied by Joachim Leo Collerette.
They were impressed by what they saw, and gave a positive report. In August 1927, Eugene Paquette and Donat Trudel assumed leadership at Kitovu, working closely with Paul Kigozi and Stephen Kayongo.
In 1936, the Education Department reshuffled the country’s system of education and Kitovu was transformed into a junior secondary school.
At that time, St. Henry’s School had 95 pupils, in four classes.
The middle years
The period between 1950 and 1960 saw the college standing on a firm footing in the Cambridge Certificate course.
This, however, was not achieved without difficulties, for the growth required new classrooms, an upgraded library, laboratories, and dormitories.
After careful consideration, the authorities decided that St. Henry’s should be permitted to stand on equal terms and share the same privileges as other schools of the same footing in the country.
In 1969, the Higher School Certificate course was introduced.
The result was that, by 1972, the year of St. Henry’s Golden Jubilee, the school population had passed the 1,000 resident students, with over 80 buildings spread over the large campus.
The College has twelve houses of residence.
They are in two sections of the houses of residence.
One is referred to as “Gutter”, housing mainly S.1 to S.2 students, the other, “California”, housing mainly S.3 to S.4, and lastly “Washington DC” S.5 to S.6 students.
Gutter
Laberge
Kizito
Muteesa
Mugwanya
Kiwanuka
Eugene
California
Buddu I
Buddu II
Mukudde I
Mukudde II
Kyewalyanga I
Kyewalyanga II
Lwanga I
Lwanga II
Washington DC
Block A
Block B
The following are prominent alumni of the school.
Politicians
Benedicto Kiwanuka
Paul Ssemogerere
Ken Lukyamuzi
John Byabagambi
Elly Tumwine
Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa
Lawyers
Charles Mayiga
Academics
Ahmad Ssengendo
Bankers and accountants
Herman Kasekende
Jean Akol
Musicians
Ragga Dee
Sportsmen
David Obua
Emmanuel Okwi
Writers
Mulumba Ivan Matthias
