Chief Justice Dr Flavian Zeija has urged students to embrace hard work, discipline and humility, warning that misconduct at school could undermine future opportunities, including professional advancement.
Zeija made the remarks on Sunday during a Thanksgiving ceremony at St. Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale District, organised to celebrate his appointment as Chief Justice of Uganda and honour him as an alumnus of the institution.
The ceremony coincided with St. Mary’s Day, held in honour of the school’s patron saint, and featured a fundraising drive to support the completion of the institution’s dining and multipurpose hall.
Addressing the students, Zeija challenged the notion that success is reserved for people from privileged backgrounds, drawing on his own experiences at the school to illustrate how hard work and sacrifice can help overcome difficult circumstances.
He recalled the challenges students faced travelling to school during his time, saying limited transport meant that missing the only bus plying their route could force them to walk about 60 kilometres to reach the nearest tarmac road.
Some students, he added, relied on pickup trucks before carrying their luggage on their heads from the drop-off points to the school.
“You may look at us and think perhaps we were born with a silver spoon, to the contrary, no. Our journey was not as smooth as yours, perhaps. For us, we were born in the village. At the time, there was only one bus plying the route, so if it left you, you had to walk 60 kilometres to the tarmac,” he said.
The Chief Justice also recalled the limited educational resources available to his generation, noting that his class had only one Economics textbook shared among the students.
He attributed his achievements to hard work, determination and sacrifice, urging the current generation to take advantage of the educational resources and opportunities available to them.
“So, how did we move up to where we are today? It was through hard work, determination and sacrifice. Today, you cannot have an excuse for not excelling. It is not there,” he stressed.
Beyond academic performance, Zeija warned that students’ conduct at school could have lasting implications for their careers. He revealed that his behaviour as a student had been investigated during the process that led to his appointment as a High Court judge.
“When I was being appointed a Judge of the High Court, a team was sent here to find out how I was behaving at school. Now, assuming the headmaster had said that fellow was a thug when he was here, I would never have become a Judge,” he said.
He encouraged students to maintain good discipline and remain mindful that their actions could influence how they are perceived long after completing their education.
Zeija further cautioned against arrogance and a sense of self-importance, urging students to remain humble as they pursue their ambitions and prepare for the responsibilities of adulthood.
He thanked the school administration for organising the Thanksgiving ceremony, recalling that a similar celebration had been planned when he was elevated from Principal Judge to Deputy Chief Justice but could not take place because of official assignments within and outside the country.
The Chief Justice also commended the school’s Old Boys and Old Girls for their continued support towards its development.
He recalled that students previously relied on a makeshift dining facility, a situation that prompted former students to mobilise resources to improve the school’s infrastructure.
“Let’s continue supporting our school, let each of us know that this is where we derive our livelihood, which we are earning today,” he stressed.
Zeija urged alumni to sustain their contributions towards improving the institution, emphasising the importance of giving back to the school that helped shape their lives and careers.