A WORD FROM NAMILYANGO COLLEGE OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION (NACOBA)

By John C. Ssempebwa

As we launch preparations for the millennium of our time, it is gratifying to put in a word from the Namilyango College Old Boys’ Association.

Ours is an association of noble men who have generously contributed towards the well being of this country and beyond. This is exemplified by the number of genius Professors in the different fields namely; Education, Medicine, Law and above all, progressive farmers and politicians.

We have as much as possible upheld the spirit of our founding fathers of the Mill Hill Society by leading exemplary lives.

Accordingly, we owe a debt of gratitude to the successive members of staff who have steadily steered our Alma Mater through the 95 years, whose fruits we witness in the encouraging achievements, both in the academic and sports fields.

Our indebtedness extends to the Government, Board of Governors, and the PTA, which bodies have given a proper sense of direction to the College Administration.

We appeal to the present generation of students and those yet to come, to always abide by the rules of the College and on leaving Namilyango, to join and feel proud of NACOBA

LONG LIVE NAMILYANGO COLLEGE.

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REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD BOY

By Bart Magunda Katureebe

The idea to join Namilyango College was planted in me by my Sister who was then a student at Trinity College, Nabbingo, and I was at Kitunga High School. My sister talked of the smart boys of Namilyango College with their fantastic Jazz Band and always winning in Boxing competitions.

I made up my mind that I would go to Namilyango for HSC - after all, I also wanted to get out of the “village” and study in a Kampala school.

So come S.4, I applied to join Namilyango against the protestations of my Headmaster, Brian Mottram (RIP) who wanted me to go to Ntare School. He nearly persuaded me, but I really wanted Namilyango and he reluctantly accepted my position.

I was so excited to come to Namilyango that I travelled from Bunyaruguru for my first reporting when I was very sick with malaria, and the medical people had advised against my travelling. By the time I arrived at school - (by special hire from the taxi park for shs. 15/-) I was quite sick. That first night I had to be seen by the school nurse, Mrs. Mayanja who really got very concerned and took very good care of me for the next few days. Soon, I was well enough and joined others in class, offering Economics, History and Geography.

Namilyango did not disappoint me. All my dreams and expectations were met. Of course it was worlds apart from the Kitunga I had left. The latter was a brand new school, whereas Namilyango was the oldest secondary school in the country. Some of us from the “village” clearly were showing “mmaalo”. I also remember the first Sunday lunch of rice, cassava and meat. For pudding, there was a dish of custard. Some of us - including me - had never seen custard and we thought it was another sauce. So we mixed it up with the meat, rice etc.! You can imagine the combination!!

Fortunately the HSC students used to sit in their own section of the Dinning, and so we were saved from the jeers of the ‘O’-level boys. Television was another attraction - I had never seen TV before.

I tried my hand at Boxing. One had to. At first I did very well until one day when a S.2 boy really whipped me and I gave it up for good, and concentrated on Basket Ball.

The most exciting thing of course was the first social evening for HSC with Namagunga. I had just bought myself a Rael-brook shirt and Strands trousers, and hoped to make an impression. The band was at its best. But some of us were still quite shy since we were not yet sure of our dancing skills and it became a nightmare when it was “Ladies choice”.

I believe we made quite an impression because Namilyango continued to be the favourite among the Girls Schools of Namagunga, Gayaza and Nabbingo. No social evening took place at these schools without Namilyango being invited; - after all, we provided music of the highest order. Nobody could resist dancing to KABUNGA’S solo guitar.

At the time, we had what was called the HSC Academy. We invited a number of speakers to address us on a number of topics. I remember two of the distinguished speakers were the late Joseph Mubiru, then Governor, Bank of Uganda, and the other was Prof. Bbossa of the Psychiatry Department, Makerere Medical School. We had a number of debates with other schools, the most memorable one being the United Nations Mock Debate on the Middle East

Crisis, which was held at Namilyango in 1970. I participated as Deputy Representative of Israel. Thereafter I developed an ambition of one day being Uganda’s Ambassador to the U.N. I have not quite done that, but I have been to the U.N as a Minister. One of the participants in that debate, OLARA OTUNNU, who was from Kings College Buddo actually made it to the UN as Uganda’s Ambassador. I believe such activities are useful in shaping students’ ambitions in later life. They should be encouraged.

It is not possible to give in detail all the exciting things that took place during my two years at Namilyango (1969-70). Suffice to say it was coupled by hard work at our studies under strict discipline by, first, Fr. Kuipers and later, Fr. Hayes. Indeed our passes in A-level results in 1970 were very good. I managed to get off with A B D in Geography, Economics and History respectively, the only A in Geography that year! Considering that the qualification for University entry at that time was one Principle (E) and three subsidiary passes, my passes were very good and so I went off to Law School. I understand that today this would not even get me in for B.A.!!

I made friends at Namilyango some of whom are still very close to me. I should also add that it was on a train journey going home from school for holidays in December 1969 that I met a Nabbingo girl that seven years later would be my wife. We are proud that today our son Bernard is an ‘A’-level student at Namilyango - the school that made it all possible. I am very proud of Namilyango, and I urge young people there to keep up the fight and the spirit.

NISI DOMINUS

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GREETINGS FROM MILL HILL

On behalf of the Mill Hill Missionaries and especially those who previously worked in Namilyango College, I am very happy to extend our greetings to the College community and its well wishers and benefactors, on this memorable occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the College. As the “flagship” of the Mill Hill’s extensive educational apostolate in Uganda, Namilyango College will always remain dear to our hearts.

It is worthy perhaps noting that for the Mill Hill founders of the College and those Mill Hill Missionaries who followed on from them, the aim which was always foremost in their minds , was to try and provide a well rounded and integrated education based on Christian principles. They were concerned to provide Uganda with leaders who would serve the people and not exploit them.

There is no doubt that Uganda still needs leaders of integrity and people of competence in government and commerce. I urge both the staff and the students to continue in the spirit of the Mill Hill founders. Namilyango still has much to contribute to the good of this nation, as it has done for the last 95 years.

Congratulations, and may God be with you in all your activities and aspirations.

Bernard C. Phelan mhm

Society Representative Uganda

Mill Hill Missionaries

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