Kabalega Secondary School old boys have commissioned a Shs100 million entrance gate and a Shs20 million sculpture of Omukama Kabalega, while calling for government support to renovate ageing school infrastructure.
Kabalega Secondary School Old Boys Association (KASSOBA) has commissioned a new entrance gate and a sculpture of Omukama Kabalega worth a combined Shs120 million, in a move aimed at preserving the school’s heritage and improving its image.
The entrance gate cost Shs100 million, while the sculpture was valued at Shs20 million.
Presiding over the commissioning ceremony at the school, Buruli County MP Ronald Aled Akugizibwe commended the old boys for investing in the institution that shaped their lives, describing Kabalega Secondary School as one of Uganda’s oldest schools with a rich history.
Akugizibwe said he would continue pushing the government to renovate other school facilities, particularly classrooms, to preserve the institution’s heritage and enable more young people to benefit from its education.
KASSOBA chairman Ibrahim Magemeso described the projects as a major milestone for the association but appealed to the government to give traditional schools special consideration when allocating resources for infrastructure renovation, staffing and essential amenities.
Magemeso said the association had bigger plans for the institution and would continue implementing them one by one under its master plan.
The Bishop of Masindi-Kitara Diocese, the Rt Rev Joshua Kugonza, praised the old boys for returning to support their former school, noting that many people leave school without returning to assess its needs or contribute to its development.
Kugonza said visits by former students could also inspire current learners by showing them that those who have achieved success in life once studied in the same classrooms.
He urged school administrators to preserve the history of traditional schools, including old vehicles, buildings and other structures that former students and visitors associate with memories of their time at the institutions.
Kabalega Secondary School headteacher Jackson Katusiime described the new gate as a significant achievement and said the school, working with the old boys, was focused on improving academic performance and restoring its former standing in Masindi, Bunyoro and the wider country.
The commissioning ceremony also coincided with KASSOBA’s 2026 retreat and annual general meeting.
The association held its first annual general meeting and retreat on July 31, 1982, at Apolo Hotel in Kampala, now known as Sheraton Kampala Hotel.
Over the years, KASSOBA has undertaken projects aimed at improving the school’s infrastructure, supporting vulnerable learners and promoting student development.
Its initiatives include lobbying for changes to the school’s administration, establishing a scholarship fund, renovating the library and dormitories, constructing a water project and supporting digital learning through computer donations.
The association has also supported the school’s brass band, sports and talent development, alongside financial and welfare initiatives for members.
KASSOBA established a savings and credit cooperative organisation (SACCO) to promote members’ financial empowerment and improve their welfare. The idea was first proposed at the association’s 2018 annual general meeting before the SACCO was formally launched on April 3, 2021, at Kolping Hotel in Hoima.