Kitante Primary School Circa the 1980's
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| Kitante Primary School Emblem: Child between two parents |
Kitante Primary School anthem:
"There's a school near the museum by the road side,
Oh come to the school of the world
No school is so dear to your child
Kitante is the best in the world.
Oh come come come come
Come to the school by the road side
Oh come to the school of the world
No school is so dear to your child
Kitante is the best in the world "
The children sang loud when it came to the chorus: "Oh come come come come COME to the school by the road side" - even those who didn't know the song well knew this part.
School prayer:
"Look at me Oh God
As my heart silent all
To you all I turn
For all the sins that I have committed
I beg to be forgiven
Where I have been good I ask to be encouraged ..."
Can somebody please remind me of the rest of the prayer, its been a long time since you know.
School Motto: The Struggle Continues for Better Horizons
Head Master: Mr. A.D.Ssozi: The man with the pipe, he had it everywhere he went.
It was great just listening to him talk he sounded very unique, you see, he spoke the queens English with a British accent. Very smart and sophisticated man, rode a classy motorbike and was an avid tennis player.
He knew all the children in the school, no matter where he met them, he smiled and waved.
Head Mistress: Ms. Sajaryabende (R.I.P): Tough lady.
Gate Keeper: Mzee Kato: (I know some of you didn't meet him. He was at the gate between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning).
Head Master: Mr. A.D.Ssozi: The man with the pipe, he had it everywhere he went.
It was great just listening to him talk he sounded very unique, you see, he spoke the queens English with a British accent. Very smart and sophisticated man, rode a classy motorbike and was an avid tennis player.
He knew all the children in the school, no matter where he met them, he smiled and waved.
Head Mistress: Ms. Sajaryabende (R.I.P): Tough lady.
Gate Keeper: Mzee Kato: (I know some of you didn't meet him. He was at the gate between 7:30 and 8:30 in the morning).
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| Gate to Kitante Primary School. Mr Kato spent his time inside the little house |
Kitante Primary was a very special school. By P7 I was able to remember all the children in the school (by face) even the ones in P1 at the time, no kidding. To date Sam thinks there was something weird about the school because many times I meet people and when he asks how I know them I tell him we were in the same primary school.
OK, I'll start at the beginning and tell you a little bit about my school. Just like the anthem says, it was a school near the museum by the road side and it had classes from P1 to P7. It was well known for its good academic performance and was the envy of the other primary schools around Kampala.
We were the only school with an amphitheater, the neatest kids, most well-behaved and brilliant.
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| Kitante Primary School amphitheater |
P1 and P2 classes, were referred to as "lower school" and indeed they were lower school.
Apart from the fact that the children were the youngest, their classes were also at a lower level compared to the rest of the school. They had their own assembly meetings every morning and their own little waiting shed which often had crying faces and scattered property lying around. In the excitement of playing after class and the anxiety to get home, bags, sweaters, shoes, containers got left behind. Luckily one would be able to claim them back in the "lost property" department at the head masters office.
Classes 3 to 7, were referred to as "upper school", the distance between lower and upper school was quite a stretch and the most important offices, the headmasters office, the disciplinary room, the bursar's office and the amphitheater stood between them. Looking back it seems to have been built that way because moving from P2 to P3 was like the long walk to maturity, once you crossed over it was clear that you had made much progress in life.
It was only when you got to P3 and the classes after that certain names became extremely important.
Apart from the fact that the children were the youngest, their classes were also at a lower level compared to the rest of the school. They had their own assembly meetings every morning and their own little waiting shed which often had crying faces and scattered property lying around. In the excitement of playing after class and the anxiety to get home, bags, sweaters, shoes, containers got left behind. Luckily one would be able to claim them back in the "lost property" department at the head masters office.
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| Lower school play ground |
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| Lower school waiting shade |
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| A view of lower school; Classes 1 and 2 |
Classes 3 to 7, were referred to as "upper school", the distance between lower and upper school was quite a stretch and the most important offices, the headmasters office, the disciplinary room, the bursar's office and the amphitheater stood between them. Looking back it seems to have been built that way because moving from P2 to P3 was like the long walk to maturity, once you crossed over it was clear that you had made much progress in life.
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| Children in class: P3M |
It was only when you got to P3 and the classes after that certain names became extremely important.
In my day the names that made childrens' blood stop were:-
Mr. Makeeri: P5 maths teacher, just one stroke from his cane would make your back side feel like it was on fire, so you didn't want to get into his bad books. Even the naughty boys who put on "bullet proof" (double shorts) or those who tried fixing books in their shorts would feel the strokes of his cane like they weren't putting on any clothes.
Mr. Mugumya: P5 geometry teacher, he was new in the school but you didn't want to mess with him, please do your homework, pay careful attention in his geometry class and you will be okay.
Mr. Semakula: P5 Geography teacher, you better be a good pupil. He was left handed and there was just something different about the way he caned, you would not forget for a long time.
Mr. Mugumya: P5 geometry teacher, he was new in the school but you didn't want to mess with him, please do your homework, pay careful attention in his geometry class and you will be okay.
Mr. Semakula: P5 Geography teacher, you better be a good pupil. He was left handed and there was just something different about the way he caned, you would not forget for a long time.
Then there was Mr. Sebujega: P6 Math teacher, I heard a story about how he once fixed a boy into one of the pigeon holes (these were small box like sections where we kept our schoolbags). That story alone was enough to make you think straight, you have no idea what such a story would do to any one in a lower class. Children in P6 and P7 appeared the biggest in the school, so by the time one could fit in a pigeon hole, chances that you would fit a pigeon hole were greatly increased.
I never got to know if these stories were true because thankfully I got them second hand from friends and family who had gone before.
One other teacher whom you would prefer that he didn't so much as look in your direction was Mr. Tibuhoire: P7 English and Maths teacher, he was just bad news. If you didn't perform well in his class and you were asked to go to the science room, it would be between you and God, just pray that you score above the pass mark, otherwise life would get very complicated.
I'm beginning to think primary school teachers had a special calling from birth because, these names are rare, I haven't met any other people in my life with these names.
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| Kitante Primary School Administration block: First murals I ever saw |
On the whole I have good memories of my primary school days, the only times my stomach hurt and I felt like I was running a fever where when I took home the wrong homework book and there was work to be handed in the next day, or when the math numbers were a bit hard and I had left gaps. It was very important that we all did our homework and completed it, if not the consequences were pretty clear, you didn't have to stir up your imagination too much.
They say 'Work without play makes Jack a dull boy" so we had times for sports and games, this was a time we all looked forward to, I certainly did.
I will not forget this one time in P2 when I forgot my sports uniform at home and we were going to do P.E (physical education) that day. I could swear Ihad packed my uniform, well at least it was washed and ironed. When it was time to change, I literally turned my bag inside out and there was no uniform. Then the sports teacher insisted that those who didn't have their P.E shorts would have to run in their underwear, I couldn't believe it was happening to me. To make matters worse we were going to do a brief cross country run, the route was out through the main gate, passed the museum, down via the headmasters home and back, or something like that.This was absolute misery for me, the boys in my class were going to see me and there were all these people walking on the streets who kept looking and commenting. It's not like I was the only one who had forgotten my P.E shorts but damn! it was the first time it was happening to me. I cried the entire journey and lets just say I was never in such a situation again.
Because I was in P3 and still a bit unsure of who to hang with my parents thought it wise that I had lunch with my big brother Simon. As it happened Simon and I never spoke to each other at school, we would plan where to meet for lunch before we left home. When the bell rang for lunch I would wait for him and his friend at the corner of the amphitheater, then we would eat and go. Now, Simon's friend liked the fried rice that we carried and I liked his rice because it was different.
One time I asked Simon to ask his friend (whose name I will not disclose until I get permission) if we could exchange dishes, I would eat his rice and he would eat mine. It worked out pretty well, his friend had a blue long flask and mine was red, so we would meet exchange containers, eat, give them back when we were through and that was it. I never really spoke to Simon's friend by the way, and for some reason the whole exchange thing was short lived can't remember why. Picture this, several years later I meet Simons friend because we end up working at the same company, and now am wondering whether he recalls any of this.
To explain the "no talking" thing between Simon, his friend and I, it's very simple, they were boys and I was a girl. Boys talking to girls and the reverse was a no no, and all this happened when you crossed over from lower school to upper school, there was just something strange about the transition.
In P1 and P2 everything was okay, when you got to P3 boys started to look weird or something so we stopped talking to each other. Girls couldn't sit in boys chairs, a boy couldn't stand next to a girl or touch anything that belonged to a girl, if he did he would immediately go and wash his hands because they had apparently gotten contaminated in the process. Then when we got to around P6 third term, and P7, girls didn't think boys were from hell any more and the boys suddenly realized they had been missing out on something and so "cooperation" begun, that was the life.
I haven't told you about how organized the school was, every time the bell sounded for assembly children would run as fast as they could to the assembly ground to avoid being caught as late comers. We were addressed by the teacher on duty after which we would say the school prayer and match to our classes. We stood according to our classes, boys made one line and girls made one line, then when it was time to go, boys and girls would hold hands and head to their classes. Now in lower school this was very simple, you held hands until you got to the classroom door and sometimes the boy whose hand you held would walk with you to your desk.
In upper school there was total chaos when it came to holding hands, for the most part people tried all sorts of ways to avoid it; Hold hands until you pass the teacher and prefects then let go, pretend to hold hands, just make sure your skin doesn't exactly touch mine, you could do this all the way to class or drop it as soon as the coast was clear. The other options were to hold the little finger, that way the whole hand doesn't get contaminated, or better still get a small stick so both of you can hold either end of it.
Most of these scenarios occurred when the you didn't like the person whom you were paired up with and even if you did, you didn't want to risk being teased by your classmates for holding hands all the way, so even when you wanted to hold hands you had to pretend that you didn't.
To explain the "no talking" thing between Simon, his friend and I, it's very simple, they were boys and I was a girl. Boys talking to girls and the reverse was a no no, and all this happened when you crossed over from lower school to upper school, there was just something strange about the transition.
In P1 and P2 everything was okay, when you got to P3 boys started to look weird or something so we stopped talking to each other. Girls couldn't sit in boys chairs, a boy couldn't stand next to a girl or touch anything that belonged to a girl, if he did he would immediately go and wash his hands because they had apparently gotten contaminated in the process. Then when we got to around P6 third term, and P7, girls didn't think boys were from hell any more and the boys suddenly realized they had been missing out on something and so "cooperation" begun, that was the life.
I haven't told you about how organized the school was, every time the bell sounded for assembly children would run as fast as they could to the assembly ground to avoid being caught as late comers. We were addressed by the teacher on duty after which we would say the school prayer and match to our classes. We stood according to our classes, boys made one line and girls made one line, then when it was time to go, boys and girls would hold hands and head to their classes. Now in lower school this was very simple, you held hands until you got to the classroom door and sometimes the boy whose hand you held would walk with you to your desk.
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| Kitante Primary School Sports Field |
In upper school there was total chaos when it came to holding hands, for the most part people tried all sorts of ways to avoid it; Hold hands until you pass the teacher and prefects then let go, pretend to hold hands, just make sure your skin doesn't exactly touch mine, you could do this all the way to class or drop it as soon as the coast was clear. The other options were to hold the little finger, that way the whole hand doesn't get contaminated, or better still get a small stick so both of you can hold either end of it.
Most of these scenarios occurred when the you didn't like the person whom you were paired up with and even if you did, you didn't want to risk being teased by your classmates for holding hands all the way, so even when you wanted to hold hands you had to pretend that you didn't.
That's about all the drama I can recall, on a more serious note I'll talk about the "class days". Every serious school sets apart days when parents can come to class and see how their children are performing and also get time to talk with the class teacher. This was a good day for some children and not so good for others, the reasons varied. The major one depending on your performance in class and your relationship with the teacher. Other kids were not too happy about the day because they thought their parents would embarrass them either by the way they dressed or the means of transport they used to come, but as you may guess these were issues that older children in upper school had to contend with.
One function that all children looked forward to was the end of year class party. People were moving on to the next class, there was going to be lots of biscuits, bread, cake and soda and that was the one day you could show all your friends your snazzy dresses.
My other brother was looking forward to his P6 end of year party, he had performed real well in class and he was feeling all grown up now, so he came up with a brilliant idea.
My dad had recently come back from one of his many travels and he had got himself some nice boots, so my brother figured they could talk man to man. One evening he approached my dad and asked if he could borrow his boots for the Christmas/end of year party ..." WHAT?!!!, You are not serious,... but you children! you must be joking, eh?! you must be really joking! ..." then he peered at him from over the rim of his reading glasses. I don't quite remember the rest of the conversation but I know my bro attended the party in his own shoes.
Hehehe, now I can actually tell Mich about the good ol days, and indeed they were priceless.
Yes, I remember Mr Ssozi's pipe. He once drove me to Mulago after I had falled and hurt my head, and he didnt even chastise me. And Mzee Kato, wasnt he shot by robbers once, or was that someone else?
ReplyDeleteWange
Wange, you are right, we all remember Mzee Kato - the gate keeper and yes, I think I recall the news of his being shot by robbers - nanti our windows (louvers) were classy and coveted. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteMary
What were the names of the sports houses: I remember Rwenzori-Green, Moroto-Yellow, Masaba-Blue and ???-Red. Does anyone remeber what the name of the Red Sports House was?
DeleteHi Anonymous--I believe it was Debastien--Red. I think these were either Ugandan mountains or mountain peaks. I hope I can get your name sometime. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteYou’ve brought back memories of almost 25+ years, so may the Almighty give more blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks VERY much for re-igniting my primary school days with your primary school memoirs. If you don’t mind,
I’d like to share them with my family and friends who are also kitante graduates.
Derek Miiro
Derek, go on and spread the word. Cheers!!
DeleteMary
wow,
ReplyDeletegreat narration that is.
Infact, was joining KPS in 1989 while you where leaving.
Hello friend. You joined as I left? Awww!! At one point I felt I knew every one in the school P1 to P7 so if we were on the premises at the same time, I would probably recognize your face :-). Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteMary
Actually I remember you. You were one year below me. I was in the class of '87. Pity that most of the teachers have passed on. It would have been good having a good old get together. Apparently, KPS is making 40 years. Now what about the Friday entertainment? The boy-girl rumours which would earn you sticks after the teacher has read your love letters infront of the class? The rocks!!!
ReplyDeleteGood memories!
Oh my word, the boy-girl rumors and the rocks hahaha!! Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteMary
Thanks for the memories...Boy fever and girl fever...LOL...being an 80's KPS girl i remember all the teachers...Miss Mukankusi (Mukanyende)...Mr Tibs-P7Y dude was too Stern...he kinda mellowed out by the time we were done with our PLE..Remember Rwatooro 6G anyone? He loved to admire the marvel of his handwriting on the board...weird! Miss Kyampaire-3M...pretty lady...Miss Ocho 5D...really sweet. Its interesting how one would start in P1G or 1K and know you will end up in 7H or 7Y...
ReplyDeleteI was smiling the whole time I read this blog
Goodtimes...goodtimes
Janet
I remembered a one Ms kakitahi,a p3 class teacher who would make us fold our fingers and hit us with a ruler, because we'd somewhat done wrong!! We also considered boys talking to girls a taboo,not until P6 and p7. If u interacted with a different gender,it was termed BURNING
DeleteYes Janet, you've all got this right - bless our primary school teachers. I remember Ms. Kakitahi - I think she had an afro :-) but we shall stick with nice memories only hahaha. Thank you for dropping by. Let's keep the Kitante fire alive.
DeleteI don't know how you came up with this idea but you have given me memories. I don't remember you but do remember your brother Simon and Peter who was in P7V and was headboy. I joined in 1980 in P3M and my class teacher was miss Kyampaire and completed in 1984 in P7Y Mr. Tibuhoire (R.I.P.) was my class teacher. I also remember mzee Kato and all those you've mentioned. You have got all the facts right just like you were there last year...anyway KPS was a great school. Cheers!!!
ReplyDeleteGeorge Geria, of course I know you - the entire family actually. Great to reconnect here. You just confirmed that indeed Kitante was the best school in the world. Blessings!!
DeleteMary
My oh my, what memories. The teachers names oh wow!You left in 1989?Okay wait? what year did I leave then? I want to say 1989 but may have been 1990? Yes, I am old. Was the headgirl from your year Brenda?
ReplyDeleteBoy oh boy, the memories.
Yes, as you can see I am stuck on your blog.
Hi my friend. If Brenda was your head girl, you left in 1990. Our head girl in 1989 was Sheila Braka. So glad you came by. Blessings!!
DeleteMary
Heeeey, the memories have indeed flooded back. Ah, Rwatooro, Tibuhoire, Danze, Sebijega, Makeeri... the latter 4 could sprint almost as well as they caned. It hurt then, now I smile hard :D
ReplyDeleteYo!!! Those teachers had speed. No one could out run Mr. Makeeri hahaha. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteMary
mary this is so beautifull see before i joined facebook i thought i was the only one who realy loved and had great memories about this school but damn am all smiles to know that am not alone.. the funny thing is i was there when you had left but see all you guys did we did like the holding hands, cross country end of year parties etc but i dont know about the science class. This is really beautiful and its great you telling the world about it, sorry guys whose parents didnt have taste then!!!!!! susan birungi
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, we are truly connected ever though the years were different. Kitante knit us together. I'm glad you enjoyed these stories. Blessings! and thank you for dropping by.
DeleteIndeed amazing. I finished p7 in 94, but i can identify wz almost 97% of the stuff. I recall AD Ssozi murmuring a "mornin" to every child at the gate in the morning (that is if you did not get late and he stops u).
ReplyDeleteDont know whether in yo times too, scouts would escort the hm to assemblies on friday, n surround him. How we felt so sweet! N den we would mount a gaurd of honour at his office after the assembly.
Talking of assembly, thanx Susan for bringing in the entertainment at assembly. N doz crazy songs where a boy n girl would be called out, n it would be trouble whichever option you chose. If u came out n danced, yo classmates wd tease u, if you refused, the teacher's cane would munch your butt!
"Struggle for a narrow way, my Moses, and Mary a ha ha ha . . ."
"Mwana Mose, dont forget Mary, mugye mu ddiro, tugusale-he . . ."
Interesting how at times we go through school (esp prim) without really learning some things. Like i just learnt a few days ago that the words in the anthem were actually "by the road side ..." I used to sing, "by the road; silent school, is so dear to your child! LOL! N den d prayer; not even sure what i used to say.
Precious memories indeed.
Ernest.
Ernest, hahaha! Your memories are for world cup. Yes, we did the scouts honor too, it was a great tradition, so glad it kept on. And the songs on Friday entertainment, yes!! Did you have the same dance move of kicking one leg forward and them moving back? Ah! I'm so glad we are able to connect on these memories. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteMary
Wow,good memories of KPS,i remember Mr.Rwatooro in his black shinny synthetic pointed shoes,the dude was a very smart guy,don't know why he reminded me of Didis comedy show",No one remembers Mr.Sande,(SST teacher)his brown brief case(No Problem),he really liked cracking nasty jokes that got the boys laughing non stop!And the walk to class after assembly,boy girl,boy girl arrangement,why did we hold onto sticks instead of holding hands,rememeber P5D class teacher Mr.Semakula punishing us for not cooperating with each other.Who used the short cut home through the rocks,near Mr.A.D Ssozi' home,you remember his dogs,eeh,very scary? Memories,memories and memories!!!!!Esther Amuna
ReplyDeleteEsther!!!! I have had a good laugh, you sure got the memories pinned down. Mr. Rwatororo, Mr. Sande - God rest their souls - quite the teachers. Mr. Sande was our P5S class teacher remember? And yes Mr. Ssozi's dogs - quite the terror. Thanks for the memories and for stopping by. Much love.
DeleteWow...this is a good one many thanks.
ReplyDeleteI left in 85-86 but I see most of the style and mentality remained. duh, and the dreaded teachers .i.e Makeri....LOL.!!
I loved the Inter colour sports more especially the cross-country and I was in Yellow and Green was the next biggest contender in my days.
I also remember the amphitheater and the inter-class shows/acting. To this day I still remember the dances and the play we 3, for the love of money, oh thank you sir..!
Cheers.
Haha Ismail, I remember you and your whole family - boys only. Your brother was in my class, I think he was called Ahmed.
ReplyDeleteYes, I remember "We 3, for the sake of money, thank you sir!" Your class did that play :-)
Well, well, I'm glad this made you smile.
Ah...Kitante!
ReplyDeleteThis is an old post but so glad I'm found it. Has made me smile.
Brenda was headgirl 1989, and Linda T was headgirl 1990 (my year).
you have triggered such wonderful memories. Thank you!
Hi Akiiki, so glad I could make a small part of your day brighter. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteMary
wohh!!kitante has not changed at all
ReplyDeletemy school i love you and miss u in india still today... Hasmita Hirani
Hi Hasmita, I hope you can come to Uganda again sometime. Let's keep the memories alive - all the best in India. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteMary
Oh boy!!! Beautiful narrative! I remember everything Kitante. Mr. Ssozi was awesome.
ReplyDeleteHello friend, thank you for dropping by and for the kind comment. Blessings!!
DeleteMary
Interesting how this article was written in 2007 ! thanks Mrs.O for having done so, it's the closest a place in these streets of the internet that we can concrete as we remember dear A. D. Ssozi.
ReplyDeleteI did my time in KPS 1986-1992 (1G thru 7Y)
Mr.L.C, thanks for dropping by. I'm glad we are able to connect here.
DeleteWe shall remember and share the good memories of a wonderful headmaster - A.D Ssozi. May his soul rest in peace.
Interesting name by the way :-)
this has really made my morning. Rest in Peace mr. Ssoziiiiiiiiiiiiiiii (as we used to say on Friday assembly) please share funeral details if you have any
DeleteMay Mr. Ssozi continue to rest in eternal peace.
DeleteWow, glad you wrote this. it brought back many memories of the teachers, fellow students, the rocks and bamboo, the games we played with the eagles, assembly time that enforced holding hands, as well public discipline. Glad you wrote this. God bless you big time.
ReplyDeleteJavan Kamugasha.
Hi Javan, thanks for stopping by. I'm glad we are able to share the good memories together :-)
DeletePersonally I remember all you are writing but you guys are forgetting the rocks, Kim jong I'll and the cleanest boy/girl every Friday.... What memos, thanks I know this is an old post, just came across but feels like it was written yesterday.. SERUBUGO ALLAN.
DeleteHi Allan, ha!! You must have been one of the naughty boys going to the rocks. Were they behind the Uganda Museum or something like that? Hahaha. Appreciate the compliment and thanks for dropping by.
DeleteMary
Unfortunately AD Sozi is more but lives in our memories. This was nice to read. Mr Danze, Sunday and Rwatoro :) And the canteen with green and pink "ice cream" cones .... could go on and on. Aluta Continua
ReplyDeleteMay his soul rest in peace. He made so many little hearts grow big and confident. He made a difference.
DeleteThanks for dropping by, I had forgotten about the ice cream cones :-), Mr. Muwonge sold them in his canteen. Sweet!!
Wow! Even after all these years, I fondly remember Mr. Ssozi...he was like a father to us all! What a kind, joyful, loving man! I wish I had known he was in the US ... I would have loved to see him and tell him just how much he meant to me. I'm truly saddened. RIP Mr. Ssozi. And THANK YOU for all the love you gave us, much like we were your kids.
ReplyDeleteAlso, THANK YOU Mrs. O for bringing back these wonderful memories. I came across your blog about a year ago, and it ignited in me a desire to find Mr. Ssozi. I didn't realize he was here in the US all this time. I'm kicking myself right now, coz I'm just finding out from you blog, that he passed a year ago! May he RIP!
Dear Anonymous, thank you for visiting my blog. I'm glad that some good memories were ignited from reading this piece. That binds all of us Kitante products together.
DeleteMr.Ssozi was in Texas but not for too long, I believe he had come to visit with family. May his soul rest in peace.
You can still look for his children I remember love Nakandi I think she was good at sports and roscoe ssozi who was head boy when I was still in lower primary.hoping they are still alive.....
DeleteRoscoe Ssozi is alive and well, his my family lawyer and also lectures at LDC in Uganda.
DeleteThis is a wonderful update. So glad Roscoe is making a difference and to think he is your family lawyer - such a great connection over the years.
DeleteNice posts, loving them.....#Truestory It rocks
ReplyDeleteThanks Jeremy. Thanks for dropping by :-)
DeleteI know the narrative is old, i just found it a few days ago and boy am i glad. I just hope somebody out there reads this, my name is Paul Aganyira, i lived at Makerere University so i als had the makerere bus experience. Guys in school called me "Aga", i was also good at breakdancing. Now I cant pull of half the moves i was good at then. Reading the narrative and the posts has just made me literally go back in time. Im beaten, I always thot I was the only one who remembered all that stuff about Kitante; the rocks, science room, the library, goozing (I couldn't avoid bringing this one up), cross country along kitante road, Mr. Erau or Erao, Mr. Nsimbi, Mr. Muwonge, Mr. Sande, the list of things I can mention is endless, my goodness, what a school and life that was. Im really glad i could be connecting with like minded people out there..
ReplyDeleteHey Aga, nice to hear from you and I'm glad we can reconnect on some level to reminice on the times in good ol Kitante. I had forgotten Mr. Erau :-) his face is so clear in my minds eye.
DeleteI think recall you might have been in the same class as my bro Simon. Your name is so familiar but your face evades me at this moment.
Anyways, glad to make your day brighter.
Happy New Year!!
For sure,KPS was the best in the world.Who attended Mr.Sande's 'fundraising functions' were we would contribute as little as Shs 5 for his bottle of soda?It was just fun.Those who can remember Mr.Mukasas (P4P) maths lessons.When writing the 'therefore' symbol,he would bang the blackboard with the chalk while shouting.LOL ! Mr.Rwatooro liked 'x' in his equations.Let...be X.He never chose any other letter.Always 'X'.This post especially the pics brought back fond memories.I really wonder if there are teachers like we had then anymore.
ReplyDeleteHi, thanks for stopping by, your comment put a smile on my face. The shs 5 for Mr. Sande (rest in peace). Ah! We thank God we attended the school when we did and what fun times we had. I once visited and found Mr. Makeri in P3M surrounded by kids who were shouting his ear off. Leave a name next time :)
DeleteHey guys (OBs and OGs) Im Paul Aganyira aka Aga, you must be aware plans seem to be underway to give away the land on which our dear school sat. Pity. Its been in the media lately. Make sure you go and get last expeiences and photos before it is decimated.
ReplyDeleteHi Paul, what ever happened with the land giveaway - any updates?
DeleteAnd now here is end of the school prayer. "I pray to be 4given for all that has been bad. I pray to be encouraged under your guidance o God. Where all peace we shall be led, not to sob but to rejoice, as my heart in yours lays, Amen" thanks for the memories. I was an 80s chap and Paul Aganyira was in my class. I led all the folk songs in every class I was in, participated in all plays and was a force to reckon with in sports. Can list almost half my class. P.1g had ms nalubanjwa,p.1 l had ms kyambadde who later became Kateregga then there was ms mpagi, 3m ms kyampa ire and ms mukanyende who later became ms muchwang ali. Remember the child to child programs??? 3g had Mr nsimbi then ms waka bi. P.4 had a female teacher from the east who taught the folk song "BALI KOLA BATYE" and Mr isabirye. P.5 Mr ssemakula, Mr makeeri. P.6 Mr mugumya then p.7 mr ssenabulya, ssewankambo, Sunday who taught sst. And did I just see Adam ssetenda's post here??
ReplyDeleteWow!!!Hi anonymous, well clearly you are still a force to reckon with - all these memories man!! Were you in Green house - the jolly fellows? Red house - the merry makers, blue house or yellow house? Thanks for the jog down memory lane too. If you know Adam Ssetenda,I'm sure I know you too - leave a name next time :)
DeleteMrs O. Thanks for the good memories. You rock. I rem I was in P1W with Ms Kabajasi a lovely lady. I met Mr Mugumya a month ago. He still looks young. Long live Kitante.
ReplyDeleteHello Anonymous :), if you were in Ms Kabajasi's class I surely know you :). Always nice to meet our teachers, Mr. Mugumya - tall, light skinned gentleman, I believe he opened his own school somewhere in Kisaasi. Thanks for the update. Please leave your name next time :).
DeleteIvan Wambuzi, 1980-1986. thx 4 all these good memories.
ReplyDeleteHi Ivan, hope all is well with you. Thanks for dropping by and yeah, Kitante forever! Keep the memories alive. :-)
DeleteInteresting write up...
ReplyDeleteI happened to come second after Roscoe Ssozi in the headboy elections although for a few days I was certain to be the headboy as Mr Ssozi had refused Roscoe's nomination and had to be universally convinced to allow his son to run for the position - even I wanted Roscoe to become the headboy and requested that my nomination be removed, only for Mr Ssozi to insist that this has to be an election and not a coronation - nevertheless, Roscoe Ssozi won with such a huge magnitude that even a coronation cannot compare. Another thing to note is that Mr Ssozi taking over after Fagil Mande was very tricky in the beginning perhaps due to the force of nature and overwhelming character of Mr. Mande, but his(Mr Ssozi) style soon won over most and he became the institution that all fondly recall...
Hi Steven, I love, love this angle. The details are gold as always, I member Roscoe, your face should not be too far off then :-). I didn't taste Mr. Mande's headship but he was a force if what my siblings said was anything to go by.
DeleteThanks for adding to these memories. I have some slight hope that by some chance you know my older brother Peter. He became headboy may a year or two after Roscoe??
Thanks for dropping by.
You have such a good memory. I could never understand the using a stick to hold a boy's hand. I had grown up between 2 boys, you see. I loved the sports day. There was also the best dressed every Friday that seemed to be won by the same people :) So.e of us would never have attained that. :) Yellow House oyee! Bunihizi
ReplyDeleteHi Bunihizi, the stick provided distance especially if the boy was not "good looking" and no! brothers are in a different category :-). I'm with you on the best dressed being the same pupils - there was a conspiracy - and those little coveted silver trophies. I was once summoned to the staff room for inspection but never called at the Friday amphitheater assembly - I'm still recovering hahaha.
DeleteThanks for dropping by.
Wow!! For a minute seeing 'Mrs. O' I thought it was a secret room by my wife..also referred to Mrs O 👍
ReplyDeleteGreat memories of the school near the museum that gave many of us the foundations of our guiding values and principles. And an identity we still hold dear to our hearts. Thanks for this Mrs O
Hi Raymond, so your wife gets off scot free hahaha. You are most welcome. I'm glad I did a small part in reviving good old memories. Greetings to the larger family - David was a class below me and Pamela was in Sag's with my brother Andrew and sister Flo. Thanks for dropping by.
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