{UAH} EDUCATION IN ANKOLE: Kitabi Seminary

Kitabi Seminary first opened its gates on February 15, 1935 at Kitabi Mission-parish now (about a kilometer from the current school campus) with 22 seminarians who had passed class IV, the top class of the Primary School at that time. They were recruiting seminarians from the vicariate (diocese) which covered the Western Uganda sub regions of Ankole, Bunyoro, Kigezi and Tooro.

The successful applicants into the seminary needed to have passed well class IV examinations in the subjects taught at that level which were Arithmetic, History, Religion, geography, Hygiene, Swahili, Agriculture and Nature study.

The founders then thought it was necessary to make the seminary independent of the Mission and they set out to look for a place to accommodate such an institution. The were looking for an area with enough land for cultivation, required buildings and spacious enough for play grounds and accommodate future developments.

The suitable land was found at Rushaarira hill. It was near the road, not far from Kitabi Mission, spacious and with a river near it. The place was however not inhabited by people because it was thought to be inhabited by evil spirits. The priests however went ahead with the idea of going to settle in that place that was feared by others. Complex buildings were established and in 1938 the seminary shifted from Kitabi Mission to Rushaarira hill where it is today.

But because the name Rushaarira sounded unpleasant and was associated with bad omen, they changed it into Bwera and chose St Francis Xavier as its patron. And in order to avert future possible catastrophes, a procession was organized with litanies and prayers. It was renamed St. Francis Xavier's Seminary, Bwera marking the end of ugly incidences on the hill.

In 1951, the staff and Bishop agreed to rename the school from Bwera to Kitabi. This was because they discovered that there was already another minor seminary in Tanznia which was called Bwera. Also in the neighborhood there was Bwera-Nyangi Secondary School, so there was fear of confusion of mail deliveries and donations.

By 1965 Kitabi Seminary was teaching and giving what other students acquired from secular secondary schools. With qualified and dedicated teachers, seminarians would compete and score good results. In 1965 the top class registered for Cambridge exams and this first group went for the six exams at Maryhill because Kitabi had not yet been granted an examination centre of its own.

Later on the seminary became a registered centre sitting Cambridge Examinations. When the Ministry of Education changed from Cambridge exams to East African certificate of Education and finally to Uganda national examination board in 1980, Kitabi always followed the system.

What was also unique about Kitabi was that it taught French and Latin. But Latin later became a hated subject and students often failed it. According to the book, History of Kitabi Seminary 1935-1995 published by the school, students neglected studying Latin. This attitude, the book says, was created by members of the seminary staff.

The conventional and unconventional nurturing of students at Kitabi seminary has made the old boys become useful and trusted citizens in various sectors.

However all has not been smooth at Kitabi Seminary. A tragedy happened in 1993 when 23 students died in a nasty accident near Kashaka on Mbarara-Kasese Highway. The students were coming from St. Joseph's Vocational School for football competition in Bishop Kakubi Memorial Tournament.

Kitabi has appeared among the top 10 schools in western Uganda for more than 15 years consecutively, excelled in band, sports, debate etc.

Annual events like Reunions, OBs sports Galas and business networking dinners are always held for example In 2017, the old boys of this school under their umbrella association, Kitabi Seminary Old Boys Association (KISOBA) launched a SACCO on a function that was presided over by President Museveni. On that same function, over 160 Millions was contributed as the start up portfolio value.

A great number of the old students are in the Diaspora (Europe, Asia, Americas etc).

Prominent OBs

- PAUL K BAKYENGA - Archbishop
- JOHN BAPTIST KAKUBI - Bishop
- LAMBERT BAINOMUGISHA - Bishop
- CALLISTUS RUBARAMIRA - Bishop
- EGIDIO NKAIJANABYO - Bishop
- EDWARD BAHARAGATE - Bishop
- DEOGRATIUS BYABAZAIRE - Bishop
- BANABAS HALEM'IMANA - Bishop
- SALAPIO MAGAMBO (Rip) - Bishop
- MAJ. GEN. KAHINDA OTAFIIRE - Minister for Justice & Constitutional Affairs
- HENRY MUGANWA KAJURA - Former Minister
- AUGUSTINE RUZINDANA - Former Minister
- GEN. CHARLES KAYONGA - Former Rwanda Army Commander
- JAMES TUMUSIIME - Director, The Observer
- ARINAITWE RUGYENDO - Director, Red pepper publications
- JOHN PETER MUJUNI - ED, Micro Finance Support Center
- HON. RAPHAEL MAGYEZI - Minister of Local Government
- BRIG. RICHARD KAREMIRE - UPDF Spokesperson
- LT. GEN. JOSEPH MUSANYUFU - Joint Chief of Staff UPDF
- GERVASE NDYANABO - Deputy CEO, Vision Group
- PETER KANYANDAGO - Professor
- PETER KASENENE - Professor
- BRIG. BERNARD RWEHURURU (Rip) - UPDF
GERALD KARUHANGA - MP, Ntugamo Municipality
- YONA MUSINGUZI - Former MP, Ntungamo Municipality
- GAUDIOSO TINDAMANYIRE - Former MP, Bunyaruguru
- ANDREW MARTIAL - Former MP, Igara West
- ODDO TAYEBWA - Former MP, Ishaka Municipality
- LUCIANO TIBARUHA - Former Solicitor General
- WILLIAM MUHAIRWE - Former CEO of NWSC
- DR. GASTONE AMPE - Snr. Lecturer MUK
- BARTH MURAMUZI - Entrepreneur
- BAMUNOBA UBALDO - Commissioner of Police
- JOHNBOSCO TUMWEBAZE - Commissioner of Prisons

And many others......

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"When a man is stung by a bee, he doesn't set off to destroy all beehives"

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