Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
WE NEED TO HELP THE CATTLE FARMERS AT NAMUTAMBA GET BIGGER REVENUES
It is surprising that the cattle farmers at Namutamba are yet to get modern. Through the 1970’s to date one sees the cattle keepers at Kyetume using traditional methods. The fencing using natural trees which exploit the soil are the norm. The ‘Busitani’ trees were there when we were young and today one sees the same! Why are we not having trees which are food for cattle? Why don’t we have fewer cattle and emphasize quality vis a vis quantity? Why don’t we see farmers practice zero grazing for their cattle?
Strategy number one should be to see improved breeds of cattle. This can be done when we get in touch with Dr. Ssemambo at Entebbe Breeding Centre. With cattle which can give our farmers greater milk, these farmers will surely be in business. Dr. Ssemambo is on telephone number: +256772421469 and surely a strategy can be got by which he can ably send staff from his office to artificially inseminate cattle of the people of Namutamba.
These farmers should have water harvesting strategies so that much of the would be run off is collected, and even in gardens we should see that our people gather water that can irrigate their gardens. Given the dry season experience, the people of Namutamba should venture into strategies to make hay so that even when it gets dry, there is means to provide for the cattle.
The cattle keepers should ensure that the cattle get the right veterinary services. At this point in time it is bad news if our cattle keepers can have cattle which has ticks.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
KIRUHURA FLOODS WITH MILK FROM MODERN FARMING
Tuesday, 19th September, 2006
By Nabusayi Wamboka
Rushere trading centre in Kiruhura district is a humble town, developing at its own pace but standing apart from other villages because of its value for milk.
So, when we asked for tea at 6.00am and the manager served us black tea, we protested.
“We don’t serve milk, which has slept over. We have to wait for fresh milk from the farmers,” he said.
According to the LC5 chairman, Philip Kamugungunu, milk and meat are Kiruhura’s major income-earning products.
“Most of the farmers here have adopted modern cattle farming and have improved on milk production. We have 12 registered cooperative societies for dairy farmers producing over 40,000 litres of milk daily. The yield drops to 15,000 litres in the dry season,” he said.
Kiruhura alone produces over 100,000 litres of milk a day and sells to neighbouring districts and Kampala.
According to Rev. Canon John Ruzokyi, a member of the Ankole Dairy Farmers Cooperative Society and the biggest buyer of milk in Kiruhura, “There is a lot of milk wasted.“We are limited by lack of milk coolers. Rushere has 20 coolers with a capacity of 5,000 litres per cooler,” a resident, says.
Last year, Kiruhura earned sh1.6b from registered farmers, each farmer earning sh9m through their cooperative societies. Other farmers who sell through cooperative societies and to traders, earn sh250,000 daily.
Mzee Yoweri Kyeishe, 80, of Burindi village, Kiruhura says he earns between sh350,000–250,000. “I migrated from Rwekiniro in Ntungamo and sold my land to buy five crossbreeds. I got more cows and rear them on an 80-acre land. In the rainy season, I get 10 litres of milk daily from each cow,” he says. Kyaishe also owns hundreds of goats, which he breeds to supply to other farmers. He sold 49 local goats to buy nine cross breeds.
Manuel Mwesigye, 52, a father of six says he sold 18 Ankole cows to buy eight exotic cows. Now, he owns 250 crossbred cattle and gets 200 litres of milk a day. “I sell most of my milk in Kinoni, four miles away, but it is far and costly to transport the milk,” he says.
With the help of the National Agricultural Advisory Services, Mwesigye got two donkeys to transport the milk. Mwesigye is also involved in crop and fruit production and grows hay for his cattle using modern practices.
For 80-year-old Mary Bairwanamu, once a proud owner of 10 mailos of land, the Government can reform the economy by empowering girls.
Being the oldest child from the Abaitiri clan, Bairwanamu inherited family land. However, during Obote 1, government decided to do away with the Mailo Land System.
When the Omugabe of Ankole, Gasyonga, advised to distribute the land among several family members, she got five miles of land, on which she lives with her children and grandchildren. Bairwanamu has over 600 heads of cattle, 100 of which are crossbreeds.
“My children crossbred some of my cows, but I still have the pure breed of the Ankole cows,”
Mzee Eliphaz Kamugisha, 90, says that from the crossbreeds, he gets 600–1000 litres of milk a day.
Many small scale businesses add value to their milk by making and selling ghee and yogurt.
Recently, the Vice President, Prof Gilbert Bukenya, was in Kiruhura on a fact-finding mission concerning the launch of President Yoweri Museveni’s Bona Bagagawale programme. Speaking to Ankole, Diary Products, Kazo Dairy farmers cooperative society and women groups, he said that his visit was meant to assess how families earn a living and also identify successful families to use as examples to help the rest of the country fight poverty. Bukenya will carry out similar visits to rural households in other districts.
CATTLE IMPROVEMENT IN UGANDA
As part of its cattle improvement programme, the Uganda government recently imported four Romagnola bulls from South Africa.
Dr Daniel Semambo, National Animal Genetic Resource Centre and Data Bank executive director at the Uganda agriculture and animal industry and fisheries ministry, said this follows a successful trial conducted after buying Romagnola semen from South Africa in 2007.
“As we speak, some Ugandan farmers are breeding Romagnola crosses with our indigenous breeds,” said Dr Semambo.
During the 2007 trials they looked at performance, growth rate and physical appearance, he added. They were particularly impressed by the breed’s lack of calving problems. “The calves are narrow and long, and they can put on a lot of meat,” explained Semambo.
The project’s mandate is to improve Uganda’s cattle without destroying indigenous breeds, add value to their beef products, and boost agricultural exports, he said.
“We’ll now be able to achieve our export goal by breeding faster-growing animals, and creating and maintaining disease-free zones and good feeding programmes.” Countries targeted for beef exports are the Democratic Republic of Congo, southern Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and northwestern Tanzania.
Semambo and his senior managers were introduced to the Romagnola breed at Armando Balocco’s farm during a 2002 visit – and fell in love with the breed.
They were also very impressed by South Africa’s breed societies. “We are sending our farmers to learn from the societies and implement the same systems in Uganda,” said Semambo.
One of only 11 Romagnola stud breeders in SA, Balocco said it was good to see Uganda trying to improve cattle and increase beef production. “We need to start making provision for Africa’s food demand,” he noted. – Peter Mashala
Source: farmersweekly.co.za
SOME LESSONS FROM THE ARTICLE BELOW?
THE ARTICLE IS IN LUGANDA (NO TRANSLATION)
Abajaluo bwe bati bwe baazimbanga amaka gaabwe nga mubaamu ekyagi ky’emmere.
MINISITA Israel Mayengo ng’amaze okukkirizisa Omuzungu okumuwa omulimu gw’okutembeeya empapula, yatalaaga Kenya n’atuuka ne ku Mujaluo eyamugabula obugenyi okwali n’ebiwala ebitiba yeeroboze. Obugenyi n’ebirala abirojja bwati:
OMUZUNGU ng’amaze okukkiriza okumpa amafuta, omulimu nagutandikirawo. Bampa amannya g’abaguzi bonna be baali baguzizza ku mpapula mu Kenya ne bampa ne ‘sampolo’ z’empapula.
Navanga e Nairobi nga buwungeera ne nvuga okugenda mu bibuga ebyesudde gye natuukanga ettumbi. Bwe namalanga okumanya be ng’enda okuguza ebitabo we bakolera, nga nfuna essundiro ly’amafuta we nasulanga mu mmotoka yange. Enkeera baabanga baggulawo nga nange ndi ku mulyango nga mbagambirawo nti nvudde mu ProostPaper e Nairobi.
Abayindi tebampanga mirimu nti balina we bafuna empapula ku ssente entono ate nga tebandagirirayo. Waliwo Omuzungu gwe naguza empapula ez’okuzingamu ovakedo, nga ye Anderson, ng’essamba ye eyitibwa Anderson Orchards. Yalina yiika 400 ez’emicungwa, yiika 400 eza ovakedo, yiika 400 eza ‘apples’ era ng’essamba ye eyitira ddala ku nsalo ya Uganda ne Kenya. Buli nnaku bbiri ng’atikka loole magulukkumi n’etwala ebibala ku kisaawe ky’ennyonyi e Nairobi. Ono obugagga bwe tebwali bwa kuteebereza era nga nnumwa kuba wano e Uganda ebimu byemeza byokka kyokka abantu bafa obwavu.
Omuzungu ono lumu y’ang’amba nti, Omuddugavu alivaayo n’amugamba nti essamba eno si yiye agenda kumugamba amulindeko mu ddiiro, aleete emmundu ye amukubire awo mu ddiiro. Yanneeyabizanga era buli lwe nabanga mbasiibula nga bampa ekibbo ky’emicungwa, ‘apples’ ne kkedo.
Olulala e Kisumu nakyama mu kalabo ndye ekyeggulo. Nasaba ensumaaki (engege) ne bagireeterako akawunga kyokka yali nnamba nga nkalirire wabula tebampa wadde otuzzi. Nalyako ngege yokka ne nsasula. Omujaluo yambuuza nti, ‘Wee Muganda? ne nzikiriza n’asanyuka nnyo n’ansaba nkyaleko ewuwe ne tugenda.
Abeewuwe beekanga nnyo emmotoka kubanga kyeraga nga nze mugenyi gwe baali basoose okukyaza eyalina emmotoka, era Omuganda eyasookera ddala okulinnya ekigere mu maka gaabwe. Muka nnyinimu yafumba akawunga n’amagi era nalya okulaga mwoyo omulungi ku ngeri gye bansanyukiramu. Okumanya obugenyi bwanyuma, omwami yang’amba nti ku bannyina ow’emyaka 16 n’omulala 18 nnondeko gwe njagala mmuwase! Obugenyi buno bwalimu ne bye nali siyinza kunyumiza mukyala wange.
Mu kibuga Kendu Bay, ku lubalama lwa Nalubaale ng’oyolekedde Tanzania, gye nasanga ekyapa ekikuba ebitabo nga kye kisinga byonna mu East Afrika. Kyali ky’Abadiventi nga kikuba ebitabo byonna eby’eddiini yaabwe mu Afrika. Bano baagulanga empapula loole nnamba. Mu myezi ebiri egyasooka ‘kaminsoni’ wange ow’ebitundu 5 ku 100 bwe twamugatta nga nsinza ‘Genero maneja’ omusaala. Bwe baalaba nga kiri kityo, ne bang’amba ntandike okwegulira amafuta naye ng’empapula ezitundibwa zeeyongedde nnyo.
NTANDIKA OKULWANYISA AMIN:
Okutembeeya kwali kulungi lwa nsonga ssatu. Esooka saaliko nampala ampa biragiro, nali nfuna akasente akamala omuntu ali ku ggwanga n’ekisembayo, gwali gunsobozesa okukola ebirala.
Essungu lye nalina ku Amin okuntuusa mu buwang’anguse, nali nteekwa okumulwanyisa. Wadde Senator Brock (ow’omu Amerika) yali ang’ambye nti nzireyo annyambe okufuna obutuuze, nneerema ne mmugamba nti, siyinza kuva mu Uganda nga sikasuse ku mayinja.
Nagenda mu kitongole gye bawandiisiza amakampuni ne mpandiisa kkampuni eyitibwa ‘Border Industries’ ne nsaba ofiisi ku kizimbe kya IPS ekya Agha Khan mu Nairobi. Bang’amba nti tebakkiriza kupangisa ofiisi etaweza kitundu kya mwaliro ate wateekwa okubaawo omuntu ansemba nga mukungu mu Diamond Trust. Oweekitiibwa Sam Ssebagereka yali dayirekita mu Diamond Trust n’ansemba.
Muno mwe twakung’aaniranga ne tukola ekibiina kya Uganda Nationalists Organisation (UNO) okuyeekera Amin era twatuuka ne Moshi. Ekibi, bannange abasinga be twatandika nabo kati bafu: Robert Serumaga (kitaawe w’oweekitiibwa Kalundi Robert Sserumaga), Baziriyo Numanya ne Charles Mpanga bannuma nnyo.
Ekibiina kyaggulawo ofiisi mu Kampala ng’ekulirwa Kawuka naye Amin yamutta tusigazza ennaku ntono tuwambe ng’akizudde nti abaketta. (Okumwebaza, naweerera abaana be bonna).
Okulaga nti Border Industries yali kkampuni nkozi ya mirimu, nagula ebyalaani nga 12 ne tutandika okutunga ebibikka ku typewriters nga mbiguza aba IBM. Buli typewriter gye baddaabirizanga, ezzibwayo n’ebibikako ereme kugendamu nfuufu.
Nnyiniyo bwe yasasulanga, nga nabo bansasula. Natunganga ensawo z’abakyala era kye nakolanga, nga mpandiikira abakola ensawo z’abakyala e Hong Kong nti twagala kubeera bagenti baabwe mu East Afrika, bwe bampeerezanga ebitabo by’emisono nga ngikoppa nga tukolamu ezaffe.
Twatungako n’enkofiira z’abaseriakle ne tuguza aba Salvation Army mu Kenya. Omulimu gwaffe guba gutojjedde, ne bayisa etteeka nti buli Munnayuganda alina okufuna olukusa okukolera bizinensi mu Kenya. Famire yange yonna yasaba pamiti naye tewali n’omu gwe baawa.
Buli lwaggulo twatuulanga ne bannange mu ofiisi yaffe mu IPS okusala amagezi g’okugoba Amin. Sserumaga nange twagendanga e Bulaaya okunoonya obuyambi mu Bazungu ne mu Bayindi. Nayitiranga wano ne ng’enda mu Amerika emirundi egyasukka mu kkumi.
Bannange baalondanga nze lwa kuba nti, ne bwe natuukangayo ne doola 10 nga nnina bannange bangi abampa entambula n’okulya. Ekyokubiri kyali kya butanywa mwenge.
(Ebirala birinde ku Ssande ejja nga bw’abinyumiza Margaret Ziribaggwa)
Published on: Saturday, 12th March, 2011
Saturday, March 12, 2011
WE CAN START COMPUTER REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, MOBILE PHONE REPAIR & TV AS WELL AS RADIO REPAIR TRAINING AT NAMUTAMBA
WE CAN START COMPUTER REPAIRS & MAINTENANCE, MOBILE PHONE REPAIR & TV AS WELL AS RADIO REPAIR TRAINING AT NAMUTAMBA
Andrew Lubega was supposed to be in Senior Six in 2005 at Kajjansi Progressive Secondary School. He had not attended part of his Senior Five due to fees problems. This problem started when his Late Father Mathodiuos Luyiga was knocked by a vehicle opposite Uganda Clays at Kajjansi in 2004. Andrew tried to make ends meet by working on people’s compounds and painting houses. In May 2005, Andrew’s father died after complications partly attributed to wrong medication he got after the motor accident. Andrew decided to leave school as the mother did not have sure money to meet the fees as well as feeding the family.
Shortly, in the course of 2005, Andrew joined training in computer repair and maintenance after he terminated his academics at Kajjansi Progressive School. Today, Lubega has more demand for work than he can satisfy. He was able to open an office at Kajjansi where clients deliver computers and other hardware for repairs and maintenance, while he has clients whom he gives services in Kampala and beyond. Andrew is able to support himself, his mother and family as well as help meet part of fees for his siblings still at school.
The above is evidence enough that if the youth of Namutamba get training in areas where demand for their services is increasing, chances are that these youth will be able to start own employment or have employable skills. Against the above background, I wish to propose the starting of training in Computer Repairs and Maintenance as well as Mobile phone repairs together with TV and Radio repairing and maintenance. This training can initially take off at Namutamba Church of Uganda where Namutamba Health Centre was initially located or any other location that may be agreed to by the promoters. Namutamba Secondary School can be one good source of students to join this type of training. The students may need classes in Mathematics, Physics and Technical drawing so that they have chance for higher studies.
I worked on the proposal for this institute, can we see Namulanda replaced by Namutamba?
It is becoming real that every office worth mention and now households are increasingly acquiring computers, the mobile phones are even found with people digging in farms and so many students own a mobile phone and the strategies by mobile phone companies to get more users of their services are leading to people owning more than one set to take advantage when ringing one on same network. When it comes to radios, many people have sets, while TV sets are also not that few. All these need people to repair and maintain them; hence the job prospects for those trained in the above outlined areas are good.
http://www.nati.ac.ug/about.htm
EMPOWERING NAMUTAMBA COMMUNITY CAN BE UNDERTAKEN THROUGH THE FOLLOWING STRATEGIES
The people of Namutamba can be rightly taken to be living in poverty circumstances. Many youth and professionals from the area have left for economic opportunities elsewhere, however, a few things can be done to empower the people of Namutamba, so that they get to boom. For a person with reasonable money to invest, Namutamba is prime and just waiting for the opportunity. The road infrastructure is a problem; hopefully, the local authorities (Mityana District Council) will rectify this soon. A two day visit made to Namutamba on fact finding clearly brought out the picture that the people of Namutamba are longing for a big push to see them enjoy better living standards; they desperately need services of professionals for such advice to see them out of the unfortunate circumstances many are in, more so, having to go to Mityana for what would be readily available in the place. If the roads are made passable, some of the strategies below when undertaken, slowly but steadily get the Glory of Namutamba may be a reality. These among others are:
1)Appeal to all the members of Namutamba Community to make some sacrifice so as to contribute in one way or the other to:
I.Community initiatives by supplying labour to projects to be started
II.Contribute financially or physical resources/inputs into the undertakings to be initiated
2)Identifying donors; local and international to help the planned projects get started and move to achieve the objectives.
3)The need to avail credit facilities to the locals after educating the prospect beneficiaries on how to handle credit and manage savings to enhance investment for the realizable multiplier effects to see to expanded production hence individual and community welfare.
4)Getting our local governance priorities (as Namutamba Community) to Mityana District Council for consideration in their 2011/2012 budget and thereafter
5)Training the locals in agricultural practices with the use of land both at the Demonstration School and at the College for the purpose.
6)Training locals in skills to boost their business undertakings
7)Opening a Mobile Money Centre where the locals can send and receive money from
8)Having a strategy to see Petrol, Diesel and Paraffin locally available for the benefit of those with vehicles and lamps. Currently the fuel has to be got from Mityana 12 miles away!
9)There is need to have a relatively big shop to provide for both wholesale buyers and retailers so that people can get a cross section of what they need instead of having to go and shop from Mityana
10)The need to boost Sports by working on the sports fields and getting sports equipment.
11) There is need to have Internet connection more so a service that can be paid for say at the College or such other location deemed convenient
12) The starting of a Nursery with grafted seedlings which the locals can buy or even get free of charge to boost local production.
13) A number of people grow Maize meaning that there is need to have a value adding mechanism so that they are able to sell flour instead of maize beans.
14) There is good amount of milk that can be collected from Namutamba area. These farmers need a dairy facility where they can sell their milk at good value and hence get less involved in time wasting marketing logistics
15) Water harvesting should be done by a number of households as well as irrigation of crops throughout the year.
16) There is need to get a good capacity Animal Feeds Mixing area where the locals can get these reliable feeds for domestic animals including chicken.
17) Need to readily provide advisory services to the farmers this could easily take off at the College but using facilities both at the Demonstration School and the College for demonstration.
18) Identify areas where the Namutamba Health Centre may need assistance so that it can take on greater treatment challenges so that the people don’t need to go to Mityana for many ailments whose equipment and manpower can be availed at the centre.
19) Namutamba Community can get involved with packing Moringa Tea, what this means is that one gets Moringa leaves dried under circumstances where these leaves don’t get directly in touch with sunlight. When dry, they are milled to get powder from them. This powder can be mixed with Tea Leaves in such proportion where the one taking Tea ends up having Tea leaves ‘fortified’ with Moringa Leaf powder. The powder is very rich in vitamin A and can be widely used. Moringa oliefera can grow at Namutamba and the seeds can be source of the best cooking oil if there is capacity to extract the oil.
20) The fight of environment degradation can be done by undertaking grafting of fruit trees which may be availed to the local people for three purposes:
I.To positively support the planting of trees as a positive strategy in fighting desertification
II.To avail households with a source of sure income when fruits are harvested
III.To help households diversify the source of what is available for consumption by the households for better nutrition.
21) The need to help the locals with organized marketing means which means the evolution of a collection centre from where the goods may be got to be taken to a bigger market say to Mityana.
CLARIFICATION
I know out there members of Namutamba Community Development Initiative (NACODI) may be wondering in what capacity I am working. The clarification is that Donald Sewanonda approached me to help with professional advice on how NACODI can go about meet its dream as well as help with writing proposals. I have been getting acquainted with what NACODI is as an independent consultant. What I am advancing are ideas that NACODI or any other organization, individual or donor can take interest in to enhance the betterment of Namutamba Community. I as of now wait to have an audience with the executive of NACODI to make some discussions about the organization and may be the wayforward. I will however remain a consultant operating under Ultra Simplex Enterprise (USE) so that I remain independent to do what I think is good to enhance the former glory of Namutamba and at the same time be able to give binding professional advice as need arises. It now gets clear that communication to Mr. Nagenda was done in my capacity as a consultant who thinks that Nagenda is well placed to help Namutamba Community given his political office and other contacts.
Thank you.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Director,
Ultra Simplex Enterprises,
O.B of Namutamba Demonstration School, and
Editor,
The Glory of Namutamba Blog which is a click away at:
http://www.thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com
1)Appeal to all the members of Namutamba Community to make some sacrifice so as to contribute in one way or the other to:
I.Community initiatives by supplying labour to projects to be started
II.Contribute financially or physical resources/inputs into the undertakings to be initiated
2)Identifying donors; local and international to help the planned projects get started and move to achieve the objectives.
3)The need to avail credit facilities to the locals after educating the prospect beneficiaries on how to handle credit and manage savings to enhance investment for the realizable multiplier effects to see to expanded production hence individual and community welfare.
4)Getting our local governance priorities (as Namutamba Community) to Mityana District Council for consideration in their 2011/2012 budget and thereafter
5)Training the locals in agricultural practices with the use of land both at the Demonstration School and at the College for the purpose.
6)Training locals in skills to boost their business undertakings
7)Opening a Mobile Money Centre where the locals can send and receive money from
8)Having a strategy to see Petrol, Diesel and Paraffin locally available for the benefit of those with vehicles and lamps. Currently the fuel has to be got from Mityana 12 miles away!
9)There is need to have a relatively big shop to provide for both wholesale buyers and retailers so that people can get a cross section of what they need instead of having to go and shop from Mityana
10)The need to boost Sports by working on the sports fields and getting sports equipment.
11) There is need to have Internet connection more so a service that can be paid for say at the College or such other location deemed convenient
12) The starting of a Nursery with grafted seedlings which the locals can buy or even get free of charge to boost local production.
13) A number of people grow Maize meaning that there is need to have a value adding mechanism so that they are able to sell flour instead of maize beans.
14) There is good amount of milk that can be collected from Namutamba area. These farmers need a dairy facility where they can sell their milk at good value and hence get less involved in time wasting marketing logistics
15) Water harvesting should be done by a number of households as well as irrigation of crops throughout the year.
16) There is need to get a good capacity Animal Feeds Mixing area where the locals can get these reliable feeds for domestic animals including chicken.
17) Need to readily provide advisory services to the farmers this could easily take off at the College but using facilities both at the Demonstration School and the College for demonstration.
18) Identify areas where the Namutamba Health Centre may need assistance so that it can take on greater treatment challenges so that the people don’t need to go to Mityana for many ailments whose equipment and manpower can be availed at the centre.
19) Namutamba Community can get involved with packing Moringa Tea, what this means is that one gets Moringa leaves dried under circumstances where these leaves don’t get directly in touch with sunlight. When dry, they are milled to get powder from them. This powder can be mixed with Tea Leaves in such proportion where the one taking Tea ends up having Tea leaves ‘fortified’ with Moringa Leaf powder. The powder is very rich in vitamin A and can be widely used. Moringa oliefera can grow at Namutamba and the seeds can be source of the best cooking oil if there is capacity to extract the oil.
20) The fight of environment degradation can be done by undertaking grafting of fruit trees which may be availed to the local people for three purposes:
I.To positively support the planting of trees as a positive strategy in fighting desertification
II.To avail households with a source of sure income when fruits are harvested
III.To help households diversify the source of what is available for consumption by the households for better nutrition.
21) The need to help the locals with organized marketing means which means the evolution of a collection centre from where the goods may be got to be taken to a bigger market say to Mityana.
CLARIFICATION
I know out there members of Namutamba Community Development Initiative (NACODI) may be wondering in what capacity I am working. The clarification is that Donald Sewanonda approached me to help with professional advice on how NACODI can go about meet its dream as well as help with writing proposals. I have been getting acquainted with what NACODI is as an independent consultant. What I am advancing are ideas that NACODI or any other organization, individual or donor can take interest in to enhance the betterment of Namutamba Community. I as of now wait to have an audience with the executive of NACODI to make some discussions about the organization and may be the wayforward. I will however remain a consultant operating under Ultra Simplex Enterprise (USE) so that I remain independent to do what I think is good to enhance the former glory of Namutamba and at the same time be able to give binding professional advice as need arises. It now gets clear that communication to Mr. Nagenda was done in my capacity as a consultant who thinks that Nagenda is well placed to help Namutamba Community given his political office and other contacts.
Thank you.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Director,
Ultra Simplex Enterprises,
O.B of Namutamba Demonstration School, and
Editor,
The Glory of Namutamba Blog which is a click away at:
http://www.thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com
Thursday, March 10, 2011
GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-INSTATE NAMUTAMBA PTC AMONG THE AIDED
This is a kind appeal to the Government of Uganda on behalf of the people of Namutamba to re-instate Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) among those PTC’s it supports. Namutamba was affected by the decision which was made around 1999 when a number of PTC’s were dropped from government funding. The infrastructure at the College was then used for training teachers for Poly Technical Schools; which arrangement however failed shortly after and hence terminated.
John Kataza - Acting principal Namutamba PTC
With the blessing of Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese, it was agreed to resume the teaching of Grade III Teachers under a self – sponsorship basis. This was after the teachers many of whom were serving at the Demonstration School decided to volunteer to see that the initiative takes off even without pay. It is then that 5 students were registered for the start! The numbers however have since increased, and the trend is that the College can regain its former glory. It is against this background that the administrators of the College and a number of residents of Namutamba would love the institution back to the former status. The fees paid by the students is a drop in the ocean given the desired funding that can have quality teachers put out and more so the numbers given the demand of quality teachers in Uganda and the regional market.
It true but sad to note that majority of the PTC’s that were phased out according to reliable information are Protestant based. This was unfairly done and this request is rightly based given an equitable formula in the phasing out process.
When we visited Namutamba on 7th and 8th March, we were given information concerning what is better termed a miracle which happened at the College. There was a visitor of Mityana diocese who paid a courtesy call on the College. The visitor was taken around and he was seen off with a few presents in form of crafts. Back home, this visitor mobilized resources to the tune of US$5,600. The money was sent to the Bishop at Mityana for the benefit of the College. As a team on a fact finding mission at Namutamba, we were satisfied with the priorities the money was put to. A new Dell Computer with a printer is in place and this is the 1st time a computer entered the administration block at Namutamba PTC! We saw a new photo copier machine, the 1st one in the College. There are fire extinguishers and a Compound Grass Cutter which is engine driven. Out of the administration building, we were shown a very huge water tank bought given that the water system was vandalized. We also saw with our eyes buildings to which new paint shows given the old looking paint on those that were not worked upon. Some money also went to replacement of electric cables some of which had been vandalized. We thank Mr. Kataza to have not been tempted to divert the money, and we are hopeful that any efforts for the revival of Namutamba T T C are in safe hands.
Namutamba Teachers College is the foundation of quality primary teaching. You can only refute it when you are ignorant. The 1st quality primary teaching that was pioneered at Mengo Primary School was spearheaded by teachers many of whom had their roots at Namutamba Teachers’ College. This was followed by the development of Kampala Parents’ School where Hon. Kasole had a big hand yet he had been party to the Mengo Primary School initiative. One cannot be happy to see a College with such firm roots going down the drain with infrastructure in place, yet when quality teachers are needed. I learnt that dr. Ddungu of Naalya S S is an old student of Namutamba TTC, the list of prominent people is really big; the likes of Godfrey Njagala, the Late Jimmy Katumba, Azaria Matembe of Buddo to mention a few. The teachers/tutors who have been through the College are not simple either there is Fagil Mandy who after graduating was posted to Namutamba, David Kiyimba, Hon. Kasole Bwerere is also a former teacher, Abby Kibalama of the Escatos brides, and many more. It is therefore a right proposal to request the Government of Uganda to re-instate Namutamba PTC among the Government aided.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FACT FINDING MISSION TO NAMUTAMBA ON 7th AND 8th MARCH 2011
At around 2.00pm on Monday march 7, 2011 we started on our journey from Kampala to Namutamba. We avoided Mityana road given the construction work on going hence we traveled via Busunju. Just after 4.00pm we were at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) and were fortunate to meet Mr. John Kataza the Acting Principal in office. We had a healthy dialogue with him over the matters of the PTC and Namutamba Demonstration School as he is head of both.
We were gratified by the developments at Namutamba Demonstration School which among others include 9 1st grades in the 2010 Primary Leaving Examinations, yet with a staff of only 13 teachers and a pupil population of 800. The teachers unfortunately don’t have motivation equivalent to the PTA that was in place prior to the UPE arrangement, meaning that without this type of allowance the teachers know very well that the Head teacher has no resources out of which to bail them when in an emergency situation, say when a child falls sick and sound amount of money is needed for treatment. The positive side however is that the teachers are properly qualified.
On behalf of the Namutamba community, I must say that we were gratified to learn about the Government input into the construction of new school structures. The structures are to be commissioned later in the year. What this means is that two necessary requirements for the studying of the children are in place; the teachers who are qualified and the buildings. What is a problem is teachers’ incentives and the feeding of the children mostly at lunch time where sugarless porridge is what the school can afford to offer which porridge costs shs 3,000 a term, but which money many parents either don’t have or are disillusioned to imagine that the UPE package caters even for the feeding of their children. In our opinion, the children should have porridge at break time and such porridge should either have sugar or milk and if possible both. How to be able to supply this porridge remains the issue, though the community effort more so with the involvement of the parents should be able to make an initiative to see the growing of food at school take off as well as some animal husbandry (local chicken can be raised). The parents need to be got out from the dark where many are and get to appreciate the reality that the UPE grant per child is so much and what the money is supposed to be spent on at the same time the timing for the disbursement to the school.
The Demonstration school has the basic infrastructure in form of buildings to help the learning of the children, but toilets and the kitchen are a weak spot which need urgent address by the community.
The Namutamba we love to see back on map should have the Demonstration and PTC all in good shape as far as service delivery is concerned. We were happy to learn that there is an appeal to the government to re-instate Government support to Namutamba PTC, the journey to where the PTC is today has been long, but the feeling is that Government push is necessary in the process of getting the PTC back to its glory more so in training and putting out quality teachers with the Trade mark as Namutamba PTC products. Our team was happy about the development and we pledged to add to the effort through publicizing that community driven wish.
Mr. Kataza expressed gratitude to those parents who have been able to sponsor their children and are now under going training to become Grade III teachers at Namutamba PTC. He told us that the effort of good teaching is paying off. This is reflected in the results of both categories of students who join the PTC as the exams they sit for are all set at Kyambogo. While it is true that teachers’ efforts are paying off at the PTC, it is also true that these teachers get very little pay in form of allowance for the work they do, but because they have the feeling for a good job, they keep sacrificing hence the positive results. We learnt that the water system was vandalized hence tap water supply which used to be the norm is not in place as of now. We were informed as well as saw with our eyes the shape in which the buildings are. These need repairs in many cases though the structures are still okay. The wiring in some buildings has to be re-done either because of being quite old and vandalism.
The Acting Principal expressed appreciation to those teachers who were able to sacrifice for no pay when the teaching of privately sponsored teachers was resumed. There were only 5 students at the start and the teachers did whatever was possible to get them to complete the training!
We were told of a miracle that happened later in the course of 2010. There had been a visitor to Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese who paid a courtesy call on Namutamba PTC. Before the visitor left, he was given a few crafts. On getting back home, a fundraising drive was made to help the College. US$ 5,600 was sent to the Bishop at Mityana. The money was credited to the College account and it is unbelievable that that money has transformed the PTC. While they had never procured a computer and photo copier, with the blessing of the donation, a band new DELL computer is in the secretary’s place together with a new printer and a photo copier. Fire extinguishers were bought as well as a compound slasher which is power driven. In place is a huge water tank already installed to harvest rain water. The balance of the money was put on face lifting of some buildings as well as replacing of the electricity wiring for some buildings. We were satisfied with the priorities on which the money was spent, the value for money in that all the items were new and that money did not go into consumption say wages. This gives the hope that for money into the boost to the College image, it is in safe hands when delivered.
The College grows some Maize which helps the feeding of the students, we actually saw some Cassava garden and believe that the expansion of food growing together with other projects like zero – grazing cattle, local chicken and piggery can go a long way in boosting the nutrition of the students as well as earning income.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FIND INFORMATION ON NAMUTAMBA:
The link:
http://www.thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com/
John Kataza - Acting principal Namutamba PTC
With the blessing of Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese, it was agreed to resume the teaching of Grade III Teachers under a self – sponsorship basis. This was after the teachers many of whom were serving at the Demonstration School decided to volunteer to see that the initiative takes off even without pay. It is then that 5 students were registered for the start! The numbers however have since increased, and the trend is that the College can regain its former glory. It is against this background that the administrators of the College and a number of residents of Namutamba would love the institution back to the former status. The fees paid by the students is a drop in the ocean given the desired funding that can have quality teachers put out and more so the numbers given the demand of quality teachers in Uganda and the regional market.
It true but sad to note that majority of the PTC’s that were phased out according to reliable information are Protestant based. This was unfairly done and this request is rightly based given an equitable formula in the phasing out process.
When we visited Namutamba on 7th and 8th March, we were given information concerning what is better termed a miracle which happened at the College. There was a visitor of Mityana diocese who paid a courtesy call on the College. The visitor was taken around and he was seen off with a few presents in form of crafts. Back home, this visitor mobilized resources to the tune of US$5,600. The money was sent to the Bishop at Mityana for the benefit of the College. As a team on a fact finding mission at Namutamba, we were satisfied with the priorities the money was put to. A new Dell Computer with a printer is in place and this is the 1st time a computer entered the administration block at Namutamba PTC! We saw a new photo copier machine, the 1st one in the College. There are fire extinguishers and a Compound Grass Cutter which is engine driven. Out of the administration building, we were shown a very huge water tank bought given that the water system was vandalized. We also saw with our eyes buildings to which new paint shows given the old looking paint on those that were not worked upon. Some money also went to replacement of electric cables some of which had been vandalized. We thank Mr. Kataza to have not been tempted to divert the money, and we are hopeful that any efforts for the revival of Namutamba T T C are in safe hands.
Namutamba Teachers College is the foundation of quality primary teaching. You can only refute it when you are ignorant. The 1st quality primary teaching that was pioneered at Mengo Primary School was spearheaded by teachers many of whom had their roots at Namutamba Teachers’ College. This was followed by the development of Kampala Parents’ School where Hon. Kasole had a big hand yet he had been party to the Mengo Primary School initiative. One cannot be happy to see a College with such firm roots going down the drain with infrastructure in place, yet when quality teachers are needed. I learnt that dr. Ddungu of Naalya S S is an old student of Namutamba TTC, the list of prominent people is really big; the likes of Godfrey Njagala, the Late Jimmy Katumba, Azaria Matembe of Buddo to mention a few. The teachers/tutors who have been through the College are not simple either there is Fagil Mandy who after graduating was posted to Namutamba, David Kiyimba, Hon. Kasole Bwerere is also a former teacher, Abby Kibalama of the Escatos brides, and many more. It is therefore a right proposal to request the Government of Uganda to re-instate Namutamba PTC among the Government aided.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FACT FINDING MISSION TO NAMUTAMBA ON 7th AND 8th MARCH 2011
At around 2.00pm on Monday march 7, 2011 we started on our journey from Kampala to Namutamba. We avoided Mityana road given the construction work on going hence we traveled via Busunju. Just after 4.00pm we were at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) and were fortunate to meet Mr. John Kataza the Acting Principal in office. We had a healthy dialogue with him over the matters of the PTC and Namutamba Demonstration School as he is head of both.
We were gratified by the developments at Namutamba Demonstration School which among others include 9 1st grades in the 2010 Primary Leaving Examinations, yet with a staff of only 13 teachers and a pupil population of 800. The teachers unfortunately don’t have motivation equivalent to the PTA that was in place prior to the UPE arrangement, meaning that without this type of allowance the teachers know very well that the Head teacher has no resources out of which to bail them when in an emergency situation, say when a child falls sick and sound amount of money is needed for treatment. The positive side however is that the teachers are properly qualified.
On behalf of the Namutamba community, I must say that we were gratified to learn about the Government input into the construction of new school structures. The structures are to be commissioned later in the year. What this means is that two necessary requirements for the studying of the children are in place; the teachers who are qualified and the buildings. What is a problem is teachers’ incentives and the feeding of the children mostly at lunch time where sugarless porridge is what the school can afford to offer which porridge costs shs 3,000 a term, but which money many parents either don’t have or are disillusioned to imagine that the UPE package caters even for the feeding of their children. In our opinion, the children should have porridge at break time and such porridge should either have sugar or milk and if possible both. How to be able to supply this porridge remains the issue, though the community effort more so with the involvement of the parents should be able to make an initiative to see the growing of food at school take off as well as some animal husbandry (local chicken can be raised). The parents need to be got out from the dark where many are and get to appreciate the reality that the UPE grant per child is so much and what the money is supposed to be spent on at the same time the timing for the disbursement to the school.
The Demonstration school has the basic infrastructure in form of buildings to help the learning of the children, but toilets and the kitchen are a weak spot which need urgent address by the community.
The Namutamba we love to see back on map should have the Demonstration and PTC all in good shape as far as service delivery is concerned. We were happy to learn that there is an appeal to the government to re-instate Government support to Namutamba PTC, the journey to where the PTC is today has been long, but the feeling is that Government push is necessary in the process of getting the PTC back to its glory more so in training and putting out quality teachers with the Trade mark as Namutamba PTC products. Our team was happy about the development and we pledged to add to the effort through publicizing that community driven wish.
Mr. Kataza expressed gratitude to those parents who have been able to sponsor their children and are now under going training to become Grade III teachers at Namutamba PTC. He told us that the effort of good teaching is paying off. This is reflected in the results of both categories of students who join the PTC as the exams they sit for are all set at Kyambogo. While it is true that teachers’ efforts are paying off at the PTC, it is also true that these teachers get very little pay in form of allowance for the work they do, but because they have the feeling for a good job, they keep sacrificing hence the positive results. We learnt that the water system was vandalized hence tap water supply which used to be the norm is not in place as of now. We were informed as well as saw with our eyes the shape in which the buildings are. These need repairs in many cases though the structures are still okay. The wiring in some buildings has to be re-done either because of being quite old and vandalism.
The Acting Principal expressed appreciation to those teachers who were able to sacrifice for no pay when the teaching of privately sponsored teachers was resumed. There were only 5 students at the start and the teachers did whatever was possible to get them to complete the training!
We were told of a miracle that happened later in the course of 2010. There had been a visitor to Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese who paid a courtesy call on Namutamba PTC. Before the visitor left, he was given a few crafts. On getting back home, a fundraising drive was made to help the College. US$ 5,600 was sent to the Bishop at Mityana. The money was credited to the College account and it is unbelievable that that money has transformed the PTC. While they had never procured a computer and photo copier, with the blessing of the donation, a band new DELL computer is in the secretary’s place together with a new printer and a photo copier. Fire extinguishers were bought as well as a compound slasher which is power driven. In place is a huge water tank already installed to harvest rain water. The balance of the money was put on face lifting of some buildings as well as replacing of the electricity wiring for some buildings. We were satisfied with the priorities on which the money was spent, the value for money in that all the items were new and that money did not go into consumption say wages. This gives the hope that for money into the boost to the College image, it is in safe hands when delivered.
The College grows some Maize which helps the feeding of the students, we actually saw some Cassava garden and believe that the expansion of food growing together with other projects like zero – grazing cattle, local chicken and piggery can go a long way in boosting the nutrition of the students as well as earning income.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FIND INFORMATION ON NAMUTAMBA:
The link:
http://www.thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com/
THE NAMUTAMBA MEDALS
THE NAMUTAMBA MEDALS
There are some individuals alive and dead who are Namutamba Hero’s and qualify for Namutamba medals. I will welcome proposals for names and the reason why these people are believed to be hero’s as far as Namutamba is concerned. However, there are people some may think are hero’s but when these are surrounded with controversy. I think it is best to have people with a clean record.
A nominated potential hero can however be got off the list when a clear reason is given.
I wish to start with a few:
I.The Late Wilson Family
II.Mrs Mugwanya
III.Mr & Mrs Kinene
IV.Mr. Sepria Katumba
V.The Late Wilson Ssonko
VI.Mr. John Kataza
VII.The Late Besuel Kiwanuka
VIII.The Late Jimmy Katumba
IX.Mr. David Kiyimba
X.Mr. Abby Kibalama
XI.Mr. Fagil Mandy
XII.Mr. Godfrey Njagala
XIII.Hon. Bwerere Kasole
XIV.Mr. Azaria Matembe
XV.Mr. Mubiru
XVI.The Late Rwabuhungu (Freelance Journalist)
THE LATE LEA WILSON FAMILY
We appreciate the efforts of the parents of the Late Lea Wilson who made the ground for the Namutamba glory we are talking about. Without the infrastructure of Namutamba Tea Estate and Dairy Farm, surely the Namutamba name we are proud of would possibly have not been a reality. We are grateful to the effort of this family which started Namutamba Demonstration School as a Community School which has grown to such heights to have prominent personalities as O.B’s and O.G’s. We thank God for the spirit of togetherness as initiated by this great family. We are grateful for the effort to provide employment to the people of Namutamba the basis for the big family names we have from Namutamba. We are grateful to the land offers to some of our parents by this family. We are grateful for the morality promoted by the family which saw the East Africa Revival very alive at Namutamba.
MRS MUGWANYA
Many of us have gone through the hands of Mrs Mugwanya. She started a Nursery School at her home which was later transferred to the Church and thereafter to a former Head teacher residence for the Demonstration School at Kiwanda. We thank God for the so many years’ sacrifice Mrs Mugwanya put in to give many of us the good background which is the basis for what we are to day. We thank the family members of the Late Mugwanya for going a step further to identify donors for the current building housing the Nursery School. We are most grateful to this effort. Thank you so much.
MR & MRS KINENE
Mrs Kinene taught many of us in infant classes at Namutamba Demonstration School. She saw us ignorant and led us to light by doing whatever it took to see us learn the alphabet, etc. We are most grateful. Mrs Kinene gave advice to many of us and as Senior Lady the girls who took her advice must be great women. We thank God for the work of Mrs Kinene up to her retirement.
MR KINENE
Mr Kinene for many years was in-charge of works at Namutamba Teachers’ College. We got clean water most of the time because of the efforts of Mr. Kinene. He was in-charge of Electric works and supervision of many other works and workers which he did so well up to retirement. Mr. Kinene drove the College vehicles for a number of years. In so doing, he delivered goods for use by both the College and Demonstration School. Many children from Namutamba were assisted travel to school by Mr. Kinene. For those of us who benefited from this service, all one has to say is that he was punctual and did his work with all the love of a parent. We thank God for the service of Mr. Kinene.
MR SEPRIA KATUMBA
Mr Katumba has always been at the heart of developments at Kiwanda for the Demonstration School and the College. Mr. Katumba is a model parent who has lived by example. Through his devoted work and sacrifice, Mr Katumba was able to see his children get quality education. We see him as a model farmer at Namutamba, from whom many of us can learn. He has all the time been a big pillar in the Church and has lived a Christian life by example. From his dedication and good example, we now see the children of Mr. Katumba seriously involved in efforts to see the revival of the Glory of Namutamba.
THE LATE WILSON SSONKO
The Late Wilson Ssonko was manager Mityana Tea Estate at Bakijjulula. He had a big heart for the Demonstration School and Namutamba Community at large. The Late Ssonko showed us how a parent can devote all his love for the children’s education. Many times, Ssonko was source of guidance to us as we grew up. He on many occasions offered office vehicles to take Namutamba children to secondary schools for which we are most grateful. From the Late Ssonko we learn that we have to be concerned about the children at school and follow up what they do as well as keep in touch with the teachers of the children. The Late Ssonko made food donations to the Demonstration School.
MR JOHN KATAZA
It is true that Mr Kataza could have gone for greener pastures elsewhere and left Namutamba given the developments, however, thank God that he has kept with a big heart to see Namutamba Demonstration School and the Teachers’ College remain moving, and the standards. He together with other teachers decided to sacrifice but teach Teacher Trainees for free as they started off the current training of teachers at the College, which is promising given the improving student performance being registered. Mr. Kataza started teaching at Namutamba in early 1970’s and today he has put in almost 40 years of teaching for which we are very grateful.
THE LATE BESUEL KIWANUKA
The Late Besuel Kiwanuka while Head teacher of Namutamba Junior School put up the current building which houses primary seven class at the current Demonstration School. While teaching at Namutamba Teachers’ College, he lived by example. He always gave students that guidance that would make them useful teachers. It is for such advice that he earned the name “Cob web”, this is because he used to tell his students that a teacher should not teach in class as cob webs were hanging. Students learnt garden skills and for a bigger part of his stay at the College, he manned the gardens and students learnt by doing. The gardens were not only source of food for a balanced diet, but income as some of the produce of the farm was for sell. The Late Kiwanuka took on the challenge to see Namutamba Secondary School gain ground at no pay for the work. The Late Besuel took time to preach the word of God and he lived such life of a Christian. We thank God for the work of the Late Besuel Kiwanuka and that he lived by example.
THE LATE JIMMY KATUMBA
Jimmy Katumba was a student of Namutamba Teachers’ College. During his stay at the College, his voice was clear evidence that he was a talented musician. He did Namutamba proud because he continued publicizing Namutamba through the music arena and later drama. We thank God for the Church music composed and sang by the Late Jimmy Katumba. The Late’s works promoted Namutamba’s good name. May his soul rest in eternal peace
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Farewell to our black Jim Reeves
Thursday, 17th August, 2006
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YOU ARE MISSED: Jimmy Katumba
YOU ARE MISSED: Jimmy Katumba
By Joseph Batte
A dark cloud of gloom hang over the country on Monday when it was announced that one of Uganda’s most celebrated musicians, Jimmy Katumba, had died of cancer at Mengo Hospital.
The name Jimmy Katumba may mean very little to the wide-eyed 11-year-olds and pretentious 20-somethings that were born yesterday. In fact, he is quickly dismissed as a relic of the past, whose music belonged to a bygone era.
I can’t blame them much. They have grown up on steady diet of disposable bubble gum pop music. But those who grew up on the Ebonies music know that the performing arts industry in Uganda was changed forever with the advent of this artiste, who was nicknamed the ‘Black Jim Reeves’ (and rightly so) by former National Theatre director, Christopher Ntalumbwa.
The ‘Katumba influence’ is present in the popular music churned out today. The tonal structure of the melodies, the harmonies, the ‘churchy’ singing style all point to him.
If you need proof, just listen to Silver Kyagulanyi, Eagles’ Martin Seruga and his wife Catherine Kusasira, the Gombya’s and Mariam Ndagire.
And what is it about Katumba that made us love him so much? It is a combination of many factors. Of course, his critics argue that he did not know how to dance on stage and was a poor songwriter.
During his heydays with the Ebonies, he relied on the pen of late Peter Clive Lwanga and other writers like Wassanyi Serukenya who wrote his Kalibatanya (nze nkole ntya). A former radio presenter, Fred Ibanda, penned for Katumba Munyambe Ntukeyo.
Katumba’s best asset and weapon was his vocal chords. We will always remember him as one of the finest baritone voices that this country has ever produced.
He also proved on May 8 during Iryn Namubiru’s album launch at Garden City that very few Ugandan artistes could sing in that American country music-tinged balladeering style that was made famous by the late Jim Reeves.
Katumba had a long hit-making career, with some excellent results in different genres including hymns, folk and pop. In fact, his whole life has always been about music.
Katumba was born 51 years ago. He started singing as an alto at the age of eight with Mukono Church of Uganda choir where his father, the Rev. Blasio Katumba preached every Sunday. When his voice broke, he joined bass.
He loved Jim Reeves music since childhood, so it was natural that he shaped his voice to sound like his idol. His other favorite artistes were Cliff Richard, Ricky Nelson and an Austrian folk-pop group called the Seekers. A turning point in his life came when he met Abbey Kibalama, a music-loving tutor at Buloba TTC. They linked up in Kampala and formed the Eschatos Brides (Abagole ba Yesu) in 1973. He left the Eschatos in 1977 to concentrate his energies on The Light Bearers, his group that he had earlier formed in Old Kampala in 1975.
Originally, Katumba and the Light Bearers repertoire was exclusively gospel music. An increasing demand for ‘pop music with a comfortable churchy feel’ saw them diversify to include secular music.
Subsequently, they changed the name to ‘Jimmy Katumba and the Ebonies’ in 1976. The Ebonies started out by performing in small venues. It was during one such gig when the general manager of Cooperative Bank, Perez Bukumunhe, spotted them.
He advised the group that the only way they could break through was to do a lot of promotion. On his advice, the Ebonies staged their first public performance at Fairway Hotel. That concert also served as a fundraiser for the construction of the Church House. An equivalent of $15,000 was raised and handed over to the late Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga at the Prison Officers Mess on Buganda Road in Kampala.
In 1978 Yafeesi Sabiiti, another fan, bought Katumba an air ticket to London to buy what became Uganda’s first set of PA system. Unfortunately the equipments were looted a year after during the Liberation War.
Again Sabiiti, together with Charles Nyonyintono Kikonyogo, the former governor of Bank of Uganda, helped the group to get another set.
Fans have always wondered how Katumba and the Ebonies survived the turbulent 1970s under despotic Idi Amin and the 1980s during the Obote II regime. The Ebonies’ motto, together with other bands like the Afrigo, Peterson Mutebi and the Tames, was: ‘NO POLITICS.’
But they failed to keep away from politics completely. In 1983, Katumba was invited to Tanzania to perform for President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. On the list of songs he performed was Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which he had re-arranged.
President Nyerere was so excited with the song he said it sounded better than the original version. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, president Milton Obote was among the invited guests. He asked Katumba to also perform The Congress of the People. Katumba politely turned down the big man’s request. It was a big mistake he would regret later.
As soon as the plane touched down at Entebbe Airport, their equipment was confiscated. Katumba kissed the boots of UPC bigwigs like Paul Muwanga, Chris Rwakasisi in futile attempts to release his equipment. It was Miria Obote, who helped convince her husband to release the equipement.
Obote called a meeting of UPC stalwarts and said: “Katumba is not for us. Let’s give him back his machines.”
That did not go down well with Luwuliza Kirunda. When he learnt that Katumba was performing in Jinja’s Town Hall, he drove there in convoy of three cars and ordered them to sing the Congress of the People or else... Panicky Katumba took the group through very quick rehearsals, after which they sang it with such passion as if their lives depended on it.
Today, it is even more impossible to believe that at that time Katumba could record timeless classics like Twalina Omukwano, Munyambe Ntukeyo, Congratulations featuring a beautiful tinkling of the piano by Andy Sewanywa, who is now a doctor in South Africa.
The combined effect of playing that live piano, and not the synthesizer, in all the recordings they made, the sweet melodies and harmonies still tug at our heartstrings.
In 1992, Katumba left for the US where he recorded a country-gospel album titled ‘Beyond the Sunset, in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of American country music. That album didn’t sell because he pulled it off the market.
While in America, he got a chance of meeting Mary Reeves, the widow of Jim Reeves. She was surprised to learn that there was a musician in Africa who not only sung like her late husband, but was also interested in redoing his music. She gave him the green light to re-record her husband’s music.
But when he returned to Uganda in 1995, a nasty surprise awaited him. He discovered the name ‘Jimmy Katumba and Ebonies’ had been changed to ‘JK and the Ebonies.’ More shocking, he learnt that the abbreviation did not stand for ‘Jimmy Katumba’, but somebody else. The JimKat kindergarten he had helped set up was sold. The costumes were gone. Gone, too, was his album that contained all his photos as a childhood. The world crumbled around him like a pack of cards.
Katumba left his beloved group he had so painstakingly put together and nurtured and concentrated his energies on making ends meet by recording commercials for corporations like MTN, BELL and BAT.
Occasionally, he would be invited to perform on parties.
Early this year, his fans in the US and the UK led by former Ebonies members, Henry Mpologoma and Aisha Ahamed, cordinated the comeback from Uganda.
They financed the recording of a 12-track album of timeless hits that included Akomyewo, and new ones like Nsiimye gwe and Osobola Otya.
What surprised me was the fact that his music talent hadn’t fallen victim to time. His velvety voice was still in very fine form. The harmonies were easy-going and seemingly effortless, just as they used to be in the 1980s while the hooks were impossibly catchy.
During the interview, he seemed to have discovered his old feisty self. He was cracking jokes. He revealed the projects on his mind — to record another album, open up his own recording studio in Bweyogerere, launch his Greatest Hits album and ‘steal’ back his photo album.
That was not to be. Last Sunday morning at Mengo Hospital, Katumba woke up from an eight-hour coma and asked friends and relatives who had gathered around him: “If you were in my situation, what would you do? They replied forlornly: “I would turn to my God.”
“OK, I will turn to my God, too,” Katumba said. He then smiled at them and closed his eyes forever. The man who spurred the evolution of Ugandan pop music was announced dead exactly 8:10pm in the evening on Sunday. So long our Black Jim Reeves and may your soul rest in eternal peace.
MR DAVID KIYIMBA
Mr. David Kiyimba is a Scientist who was put in charge of the Namutamba UNESCO project. This project saw at least three building complexes being added to Namutamba Teachers’ College. The project under his supervision collected many grasses and these had their various names clearly written and this added to the beauty of Namutamba Teachers’ College. Mr. Kiyimba educated his children and they are holding responsible positions. We thank God for Mr. Kiyimba’s work and innovations in the various school curriculum.
MR. ABBY KIBALAMA
Mr. Abby Kibalama was a teacher at Namutamba Teachers’ College. He is remembered for seeing his wife train with male students at the College to become a teacher. His career as a composer of Church Music saw him organize a group while in Jinja which evolved into the Escatos Brides who are very popular and are source of relieving music to many more so in times of happiness as well as in sorrow. We are grateful for Kibalama’s effort in furthering evangelism through music more so that we are going through such time where there is a lot of moral decadence. The Kibalama’s give us examples to learn from. We are grateful to this effort.
MR. FAGIL MANDY
Mr. Fagil Mandy officially started his working career at Namutamba Teachers’ College. He was exemplary at teaching among other things Sports and Physical Education. He has held various positions up to Commissioner in the Ministry of Education and Sports. He is a model teacher with many solutions to education related problems. He is currently a Consultant in Career Guidance. He has been a real asset through his career life and Namutamba is promoted through these works.
MR. GODFREY NJAGALA
Mr. Godfrey Njagala is a former student of Namutamba Teahers’ College as a Grade II teacher. He started off his teaching career at Namutamba Demonstration School. He is a model of those people who have devoted their lives to see greater heights. This he has been able to achieve by going for higher studies to the extent that he currently holds a Masters degree which qualified him to lecture at Makerere University. He is a Radio Person today, and uses the radio to further the word of God. He earned the title of Canon given his abilities in preaching the word of God. As a Head teacher at Makerere High, he was behind the innovation of grown ups going for further education at the level of Ordinary and Advanced Certificate of Education. He is good at guidance of students and Christians. We thank him for promoting Namutamba beyond Namutamba.
HON.BWERERE KASOLE
Hon. Bwerere Kasole is an innovator in education one of the epitome of quality education in Uganda. Kasole was a teacher at Namutamba and he later with other teachers at Mengo Primary School came up with model teaching; which is the basis for the education for excellence we see today. He later joined hands with others and they started the model Kampala Parents’ School. Kasole has educated many people of high standing after the innovation of quality primary education in Uganda. Today, Kasole’s name is indeed a household name among many well placed people in Uganda who have had their children learn from Kasole’s Kampala Parents’ and now Mubende Parents’ School. We are very grateful for Kasole’s name given his background having to do with Namutamba.
MR. AZARIA MATEMBE
Mr. Azaria Matembe is a known Science teacher who is a former student of Namutamba Teachers’ College. Mr. Matembe started at the Demonstration School in high gear. We remember how he organized to have classes benefit from the school mangoes in a very organized way. Mr. Matembe is one of those who put in serious work to see the Demonstration School academic standards. He was one of those who started extra work at the school on Saturdays and school holidays. Mr. Matembe has had input into the curriculum mostly in the Science section. He was managed Buddo School farm excellently. We thank him for the good promotion of the Namutamba name.
MR. MUBIRU
Mr. Mubiru has been at hand to help the people of Namutamba. He is remembered to have bought Coffee for so many years from the people of Namutamba. Mr. Mubiru made the School uniforms for the Demonstration for so many years. Many of the people of Namutamba have had one stop centre for shopping household needs. We thank Mr. Mubiru for the big heart for the Namutamba Community.
THE LATE RWABUHUNGU
The Late Rwabuhungu a freelance journalist did a lot in publicizing Namutamba in his regular column “The Wonders of Namutamba”, through this column, many people got to know about Namutamba. May his soul rest in peace
There are some individuals alive and dead who are Namutamba Hero’s and qualify for Namutamba medals. I will welcome proposals for names and the reason why these people are believed to be hero’s as far as Namutamba is concerned. However, there are people some may think are hero’s but when these are surrounded with controversy. I think it is best to have people with a clean record.
A nominated potential hero can however be got off the list when a clear reason is given.
I wish to start with a few:
I.The Late Wilson Family
II.Mrs Mugwanya
III.Mr & Mrs Kinene
IV.Mr. Sepria Katumba
V.The Late Wilson Ssonko
VI.Mr. John Kataza
VII.The Late Besuel Kiwanuka
VIII.The Late Jimmy Katumba
IX.Mr. David Kiyimba
X.Mr. Abby Kibalama
XI.Mr. Fagil Mandy
XII.Mr. Godfrey Njagala
XIII.Hon. Bwerere Kasole
XIV.Mr. Azaria Matembe
XV.Mr. Mubiru
XVI.The Late Rwabuhungu (Freelance Journalist)
THE LATE LEA WILSON FAMILY
We appreciate the efforts of the parents of the Late Lea Wilson who made the ground for the Namutamba glory we are talking about. Without the infrastructure of Namutamba Tea Estate and Dairy Farm, surely the Namutamba name we are proud of would possibly have not been a reality. We are grateful to the effort of this family which started Namutamba Demonstration School as a Community School which has grown to such heights to have prominent personalities as O.B’s and O.G’s. We thank God for the spirit of togetherness as initiated by this great family. We are grateful for the effort to provide employment to the people of Namutamba the basis for the big family names we have from Namutamba. We are grateful to the land offers to some of our parents by this family. We are grateful for the morality promoted by the family which saw the East Africa Revival very alive at Namutamba.
MRS MUGWANYA
Many of us have gone through the hands of Mrs Mugwanya. She started a Nursery School at her home which was later transferred to the Church and thereafter to a former Head teacher residence for the Demonstration School at Kiwanda. We thank God for the so many years’ sacrifice Mrs Mugwanya put in to give many of us the good background which is the basis for what we are to day. We thank the family members of the Late Mugwanya for going a step further to identify donors for the current building housing the Nursery School. We are most grateful to this effort. Thank you so much.
MR & MRS KINENE
Mrs Kinene taught many of us in infant classes at Namutamba Demonstration School. She saw us ignorant and led us to light by doing whatever it took to see us learn the alphabet, etc. We are most grateful. Mrs Kinene gave advice to many of us and as Senior Lady the girls who took her advice must be great women. We thank God for the work of Mrs Kinene up to her retirement.
MR KINENE
Mr Kinene for many years was in-charge of works at Namutamba Teachers’ College. We got clean water most of the time because of the efforts of Mr. Kinene. He was in-charge of Electric works and supervision of many other works and workers which he did so well up to retirement. Mr. Kinene drove the College vehicles for a number of years. In so doing, he delivered goods for use by both the College and Demonstration School. Many children from Namutamba were assisted travel to school by Mr. Kinene. For those of us who benefited from this service, all one has to say is that he was punctual and did his work with all the love of a parent. We thank God for the service of Mr. Kinene.
MR SEPRIA KATUMBA
Mr Katumba has always been at the heart of developments at Kiwanda for the Demonstration School and the College. Mr. Katumba is a model parent who has lived by example. Through his devoted work and sacrifice, Mr Katumba was able to see his children get quality education. We see him as a model farmer at Namutamba, from whom many of us can learn. He has all the time been a big pillar in the Church and has lived a Christian life by example. From his dedication and good example, we now see the children of Mr. Katumba seriously involved in efforts to see the revival of the Glory of Namutamba.
THE LATE WILSON SSONKO
The Late Wilson Ssonko was manager Mityana Tea Estate at Bakijjulula. He had a big heart for the Demonstration School and Namutamba Community at large. The Late Ssonko showed us how a parent can devote all his love for the children’s education. Many times, Ssonko was source of guidance to us as we grew up. He on many occasions offered office vehicles to take Namutamba children to secondary schools for which we are most grateful. From the Late Ssonko we learn that we have to be concerned about the children at school and follow up what they do as well as keep in touch with the teachers of the children. The Late Ssonko made food donations to the Demonstration School.
MR JOHN KATAZA
It is true that Mr Kataza could have gone for greener pastures elsewhere and left Namutamba given the developments, however, thank God that he has kept with a big heart to see Namutamba Demonstration School and the Teachers’ College remain moving, and the standards. He together with other teachers decided to sacrifice but teach Teacher Trainees for free as they started off the current training of teachers at the College, which is promising given the improving student performance being registered. Mr. Kataza started teaching at Namutamba in early 1970’s and today he has put in almost 40 years of teaching for which we are very grateful.
THE LATE BESUEL KIWANUKA
The Late Besuel Kiwanuka while Head teacher of Namutamba Junior School put up the current building which houses primary seven class at the current Demonstration School. While teaching at Namutamba Teachers’ College, he lived by example. He always gave students that guidance that would make them useful teachers. It is for such advice that he earned the name “Cob web”, this is because he used to tell his students that a teacher should not teach in class as cob webs were hanging. Students learnt garden skills and for a bigger part of his stay at the College, he manned the gardens and students learnt by doing. The gardens were not only source of food for a balanced diet, but income as some of the produce of the farm was for sell. The Late Kiwanuka took on the challenge to see Namutamba Secondary School gain ground at no pay for the work. The Late Besuel took time to preach the word of God and he lived such life of a Christian. We thank God for the work of the Late Besuel Kiwanuka and that he lived by example.
THE LATE JIMMY KATUMBA
Jimmy Katumba was a student of Namutamba Teachers’ College. During his stay at the College, his voice was clear evidence that he was a talented musician. He did Namutamba proud because he continued publicizing Namutamba through the music arena and later drama. We thank God for the Church music composed and sang by the Late Jimmy Katumba. The Late’s works promoted Namutamba’s good name. May his soul rest in eternal peace
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Farewell to our black Jim Reeves
Thursday, 17th August, 2006
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YOU ARE MISSED: Jimmy Katumba
YOU ARE MISSED: Jimmy Katumba
By Joseph Batte
A dark cloud of gloom hang over the country on Monday when it was announced that one of Uganda’s most celebrated musicians, Jimmy Katumba, had died of cancer at Mengo Hospital.
The name Jimmy Katumba may mean very little to the wide-eyed 11-year-olds and pretentious 20-somethings that were born yesterday. In fact, he is quickly dismissed as a relic of the past, whose music belonged to a bygone era.
I can’t blame them much. They have grown up on steady diet of disposable bubble gum pop music. But those who grew up on the Ebonies music know that the performing arts industry in Uganda was changed forever with the advent of this artiste, who was nicknamed the ‘Black Jim Reeves’ (and rightly so) by former National Theatre director, Christopher Ntalumbwa.
The ‘Katumba influence’ is present in the popular music churned out today. The tonal structure of the melodies, the harmonies, the ‘churchy’ singing style all point to him.
If you need proof, just listen to Silver Kyagulanyi, Eagles’ Martin Seruga and his wife Catherine Kusasira, the Gombya’s and Mariam Ndagire.
And what is it about Katumba that made us love him so much? It is a combination of many factors. Of course, his critics argue that he did not know how to dance on stage and was a poor songwriter.
During his heydays with the Ebonies, he relied on the pen of late Peter Clive Lwanga and other writers like Wassanyi Serukenya who wrote his Kalibatanya (nze nkole ntya). A former radio presenter, Fred Ibanda, penned for Katumba Munyambe Ntukeyo.
Katumba’s best asset and weapon was his vocal chords. We will always remember him as one of the finest baritone voices that this country has ever produced.
He also proved on May 8 during Iryn Namubiru’s album launch at Garden City that very few Ugandan artistes could sing in that American country music-tinged balladeering style that was made famous by the late Jim Reeves.
Katumba had a long hit-making career, with some excellent results in different genres including hymns, folk and pop. In fact, his whole life has always been about music.
Katumba was born 51 years ago. He started singing as an alto at the age of eight with Mukono Church of Uganda choir where his father, the Rev. Blasio Katumba preached every Sunday. When his voice broke, he joined bass.
He loved Jim Reeves music since childhood, so it was natural that he shaped his voice to sound like his idol. His other favorite artistes were Cliff Richard, Ricky Nelson and an Austrian folk-pop group called the Seekers. A turning point in his life came when he met Abbey Kibalama, a music-loving tutor at Buloba TTC. They linked up in Kampala and formed the Eschatos Brides (Abagole ba Yesu) in 1973. He left the Eschatos in 1977 to concentrate his energies on The Light Bearers, his group that he had earlier formed in Old Kampala in 1975.
Originally, Katumba and the Light Bearers repertoire was exclusively gospel music. An increasing demand for ‘pop music with a comfortable churchy feel’ saw them diversify to include secular music.
Subsequently, they changed the name to ‘Jimmy Katumba and the Ebonies’ in 1976. The Ebonies started out by performing in small venues. It was during one such gig when the general manager of Cooperative Bank, Perez Bukumunhe, spotted them.
He advised the group that the only way they could break through was to do a lot of promotion. On his advice, the Ebonies staged their first public performance at Fairway Hotel. That concert also served as a fundraiser for the construction of the Church House. An equivalent of $15,000 was raised and handed over to the late Bishop Dunstan Nsubuga at the Prison Officers Mess on Buganda Road in Kampala.
In 1978 Yafeesi Sabiiti, another fan, bought Katumba an air ticket to London to buy what became Uganda’s first set of PA system. Unfortunately the equipments were looted a year after during the Liberation War.
Again Sabiiti, together with Charles Nyonyintono Kikonyogo, the former governor of Bank of Uganda, helped the group to get another set.
Fans have always wondered how Katumba and the Ebonies survived the turbulent 1970s under despotic Idi Amin and the 1980s during the Obote II regime. The Ebonies’ motto, together with other bands like the Afrigo, Peterson Mutebi and the Tames, was: ‘NO POLITICS.’
But they failed to keep away from politics completely. In 1983, Katumba was invited to Tanzania to perform for President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere. On the list of songs he performed was Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), which he had re-arranged.
President Nyerere was so excited with the song he said it sounded better than the original version. Unfortunately, as fate would have it, president Milton Obote was among the invited guests. He asked Katumba to also perform The Congress of the People. Katumba politely turned down the big man’s request. It was a big mistake he would regret later.
As soon as the plane touched down at Entebbe Airport, their equipment was confiscated. Katumba kissed the boots of UPC bigwigs like Paul Muwanga, Chris Rwakasisi in futile attempts to release his equipment. It was Miria Obote, who helped convince her husband to release the equipement.
Obote called a meeting of UPC stalwarts and said: “Katumba is not for us. Let’s give him back his machines.”
That did not go down well with Luwuliza Kirunda. When he learnt that Katumba was performing in Jinja’s Town Hall, he drove there in convoy of three cars and ordered them to sing the Congress of the People or else... Panicky Katumba took the group through very quick rehearsals, after which they sang it with such passion as if their lives depended on it.
Today, it is even more impossible to believe that at that time Katumba could record timeless classics like Twalina Omukwano, Munyambe Ntukeyo, Congratulations featuring a beautiful tinkling of the piano by Andy Sewanywa, who is now a doctor in South Africa.
The combined effect of playing that live piano, and not the synthesizer, in all the recordings they made, the sweet melodies and harmonies still tug at our heartstrings.
In 1992, Katumba left for the US where he recorded a country-gospel album titled ‘Beyond the Sunset, in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of American country music. That album didn’t sell because he pulled it off the market.
While in America, he got a chance of meeting Mary Reeves, the widow of Jim Reeves. She was surprised to learn that there was a musician in Africa who not only sung like her late husband, but was also interested in redoing his music. She gave him the green light to re-record her husband’s music.
But when he returned to Uganda in 1995, a nasty surprise awaited him. He discovered the name ‘Jimmy Katumba and Ebonies’ had been changed to ‘JK and the Ebonies.’ More shocking, he learnt that the abbreviation did not stand for ‘Jimmy Katumba’, but somebody else. The JimKat kindergarten he had helped set up was sold. The costumes were gone. Gone, too, was his album that contained all his photos as a childhood. The world crumbled around him like a pack of cards.
Katumba left his beloved group he had so painstakingly put together and nurtured and concentrated his energies on making ends meet by recording commercials for corporations like MTN, BELL and BAT.
Occasionally, he would be invited to perform on parties.
Early this year, his fans in the US and the UK led by former Ebonies members, Henry Mpologoma and Aisha Ahamed, cordinated the comeback from Uganda.
They financed the recording of a 12-track album of timeless hits that included Akomyewo, and new ones like Nsiimye gwe and Osobola Otya.
What surprised me was the fact that his music talent hadn’t fallen victim to time. His velvety voice was still in very fine form. The harmonies were easy-going and seemingly effortless, just as they used to be in the 1980s while the hooks were impossibly catchy.
During the interview, he seemed to have discovered his old feisty self. He was cracking jokes. He revealed the projects on his mind — to record another album, open up his own recording studio in Bweyogerere, launch his Greatest Hits album and ‘steal’ back his photo album.
That was not to be. Last Sunday morning at Mengo Hospital, Katumba woke up from an eight-hour coma and asked friends and relatives who had gathered around him: “If you were in my situation, what would you do? They replied forlornly: “I would turn to my God.”
“OK, I will turn to my God, too,” Katumba said. He then smiled at them and closed his eyes forever. The man who spurred the evolution of Ugandan pop music was announced dead exactly 8:10pm in the evening on Sunday. So long our Black Jim Reeves and may your soul rest in eternal peace.
MR DAVID KIYIMBA
Mr. David Kiyimba is a Scientist who was put in charge of the Namutamba UNESCO project. This project saw at least three building complexes being added to Namutamba Teachers’ College. The project under his supervision collected many grasses and these had their various names clearly written and this added to the beauty of Namutamba Teachers’ College. Mr. Kiyimba educated his children and they are holding responsible positions. We thank God for Mr. Kiyimba’s work and innovations in the various school curriculum.
MR. ABBY KIBALAMA
Mr. Abby Kibalama was a teacher at Namutamba Teachers’ College. He is remembered for seeing his wife train with male students at the College to become a teacher. His career as a composer of Church Music saw him organize a group while in Jinja which evolved into the Escatos Brides who are very popular and are source of relieving music to many more so in times of happiness as well as in sorrow. We are grateful for Kibalama’s effort in furthering evangelism through music more so that we are going through such time where there is a lot of moral decadence. The Kibalama’s give us examples to learn from. We are grateful to this effort.
MR. FAGIL MANDY
Mr. Fagil Mandy officially started his working career at Namutamba Teachers’ College. He was exemplary at teaching among other things Sports and Physical Education. He has held various positions up to Commissioner in the Ministry of Education and Sports. He is a model teacher with many solutions to education related problems. He is currently a Consultant in Career Guidance. He has been a real asset through his career life and Namutamba is promoted through these works.
MR. GODFREY NJAGALA
Mr. Godfrey Njagala is a former student of Namutamba Teahers’ College as a Grade II teacher. He started off his teaching career at Namutamba Demonstration School. He is a model of those people who have devoted their lives to see greater heights. This he has been able to achieve by going for higher studies to the extent that he currently holds a Masters degree which qualified him to lecture at Makerere University. He is a Radio Person today, and uses the radio to further the word of God. He earned the title of Canon given his abilities in preaching the word of God. As a Head teacher at Makerere High, he was behind the innovation of grown ups going for further education at the level of Ordinary and Advanced Certificate of Education. He is good at guidance of students and Christians. We thank him for promoting Namutamba beyond Namutamba.
HON.BWERERE KASOLE
Hon. Bwerere Kasole is an innovator in education one of the epitome of quality education in Uganda. Kasole was a teacher at Namutamba and he later with other teachers at Mengo Primary School came up with model teaching; which is the basis for the education for excellence we see today. He later joined hands with others and they started the model Kampala Parents’ School. Kasole has educated many people of high standing after the innovation of quality primary education in Uganda. Today, Kasole’s name is indeed a household name among many well placed people in Uganda who have had their children learn from Kasole’s Kampala Parents’ and now Mubende Parents’ School. We are very grateful for Kasole’s name given his background having to do with Namutamba.
MR. AZARIA MATEMBE
Mr. Azaria Matembe is a known Science teacher who is a former student of Namutamba Teachers’ College. Mr. Matembe started at the Demonstration School in high gear. We remember how he organized to have classes benefit from the school mangoes in a very organized way. Mr. Matembe is one of those who put in serious work to see the Demonstration School academic standards. He was one of those who started extra work at the school on Saturdays and school holidays. Mr. Matembe has had input into the curriculum mostly in the Science section. He was managed Buddo School farm excellently. We thank him for the good promotion of the Namutamba name.
MR. MUBIRU
Mr. Mubiru has been at hand to help the people of Namutamba. He is remembered to have bought Coffee for so many years from the people of Namutamba. Mr. Mubiru made the School uniforms for the Demonstration for so many years. Many of the people of Namutamba have had one stop centre for shopping household needs. We thank Mr. Mubiru for the big heart for the Namutamba Community.
THE LATE RWABUHUNGU
The Late Rwabuhungu a freelance journalist did a lot in publicizing Namutamba in his regular column “The Wonders of Namutamba”, through this column, many people got to know about Namutamba. May his soul rest in peace
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-INSTATE NAMUTAMBA PTC AMONG THE AIDED
GOVERNMENT SHOULD RE-INSTATE NAMUTAMBA PTC AMONG THE AIDED
This is a kind appeal to the Government of Uganda on behalf of the people of Namutamba to re-instate Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) among those PTC’s it supports. Namutamba was affected by the decision which was made around 1999 when a number of PTC’s were dropped from government funding. The infrastructure at the College was then used for training teachers for Poly Technical Schools; which arrangement however failed shortly after and hence terminated.
John Kataza - Acting principal Namutamba PTC
With the blessing of Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese, it was agreed to resume the teaching of Grade III Teachers under a self – sponsorship basis. This was after the teachers many of whom were serving at the Demonstration School decided to volunteer to see that the initiative takes off even without pay. It is then that 5 students were registered for the start! The numbers however have since increased, and the trend is that the College can regain its former glory. It is against this background that the administrators of the College and a number of residents of Namutamba would love the institution back to the former status. The fees paid by the students is a drop in the ocean given the desired funding that can have quality teachers put out and more so the numbers given the demand of quality teachers in Uganda and the regional market.
It true but sad to note that majority of the PTC’s that were phased out according to reliable information are Protestant based. This was unfairly done and this request is rightly based given an equitable formula in the phasing out process.
When we visited Namutamba on 7th and 8th March, we were given information concerning what is better termed a miracle which happened at the College. There was a visitor of Mityana diocese who paid a courtesy call on the College. The visitor was taken around and he was seen off with a few presents in form of crafts. Back home, this visitor mobilized resources to the tune of US$5,600. The money was sent to the Bishop at Mityana for the benefit of the College. As a team on a fact finding mission at Namutamba, we were satisfied with the priorities the money was put to. A new Dell Computer with a printer is in place and this is the 1st time a computer entered the administration block at Namutamba PTC! We saw a new photo copier machine, the 1st one in the College. There are fire extinguishers and a Compound Grass Cutter which is engine driven. Out of the administration building, we were shown a very huge water tank bought given that the water system was vandalized. We also saw with our eyes buildings to which new paint shows given the old looking paint on those that were not worked upon. Some money also went to replacement of electric cables some of which had been vandalized. We thank Mr. Kataza to have not been tempted to divert the money, and we are hopeful that any efforts for the revival of Namutamba T T C are in safe hands.
Namutamba Teachers College is the foundation of quality primary teaching. You can only refute it when you are ignorant. The 1st quality primary teaching that was pioneered at Mengo Primary School was spearheaded by teachers many of whom had their roots at Namutamba Teachers’ College. This was followed by the development of Kampala Parents’ School where Hon. Kasole had a big hand yet he had been party to the Mengo Primary School initiative. One cannot be happy to see a College with such firm roots going down the drain with infrastructure in place, yet when quality teachers are needed. I learnt that dr. Ddungu of Naalya S S is an old student of Namutamba TTC, the list of prominent people is really big; the likes of Godfrey Njagala, the Late Jimmy Katumba, Azaria Matembe of Buddo to mention a few. The teachers/tutors who have been through the College are not simple either there is Fagil Mandy who after graduating was posted to Namutamba, David Kiyimba, Hon. Kasole Bwerere is also a former teacher, Abby Kibalama of the Escatos brides, and many more. It is therefore a right proposal to request the Government of Uganda to re-instate Namutamba PTC among the Government aided.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FACT FINDING MISSION TO NAMUTAMBA ON 7th AND 8th MARCH 2011
At around 2.00pm on Monday march 7, 2011 we started on our journey from Kampala to Namutamba. We avoided Mityana road given the construction work on going hence we traveled via Busunju. Just after 4.00pm we were at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) and were fortunate to meet Mr. John Kataza the Acting Principal in office. We had a healthy dialogue with him over the matters of the PTC and Namutamba Demonstration School as he is head of both.
We were gratified by the developments at Namutamba Demonstration School which among others include 9 1st grades in the 2010 Primary Leaving Examinations, yet with a staff of only 13 teachers and a pupil population of 800. The teachers unfortunately don’t have motivation equivalent to the PTA that was in place prior to the UPE arrangement, meaning that without this type of allowance the teachers know very well that the Head teacher has no resources out of which to bail them when in an emergency situation, say when a child falls sick and sound amount of money is needed for treatment. The positive side however is that the teachers are properly qualified.
On behalf of the Namutamba community, I must say that we were gratified to learn about the Government input into the construction of new school structures. The structures are to be commissioned later in the year. What this means is that two necessary requirements for the studying of the children are in place; the teachers who are qualified and the buildings. What is a problem is teachers’ incentives and the feeding of the children mostly at lunch time where sugarless porridge is what the school can afford to offer which porridge costs shs 3,000 a term, but which money many parents either don’t have or are disillusioned to imagine that the UPE package caters even for the feeding of their children. In our opinion, the children should have porridge at break time and such porridge should either have sugar or milk and if possible both. How to be able to supply this porridge remains the issue, though the community effort more so with the involvement of the parents should be able to make an initiative to see the growing of food at school take off as well as some animal husbandry (local chicken can be raised). The parents need to be got out from the dark where many are and get to appreciate the reality that the UPE grant per child is so much and what the money is supposed to be spent on at the same time the timing for the disbursement to the school.
The Demonstration school has the basic infrastructure in form of buildings to help the learning of the children, but toilets and the kitchen are a weak spot which need urgent address by the community.
The Namutamba we love to see back on map should have the Demonstration and PTC all in good shape as far as service delivery is concerned. We were happy to learn that there is an appeal to the government to re-instate Government support to Namutamba PTC, the journey to where the PTC is today has been long, but the feeling is that Government push is necessary in the process of getting the PTC back to its glory more so in training and putting out quality teachers with the Trade mark as Namutamba PTC products. Our team was happy about the development and we pledged to add to the effort through publicizing that community driven wish.
Mr. Kataza expressed gratitude to those parents who have been able to sponsor their children and are now under going training to become Grade III teachers at Namutamba PTC. He told us that the effort of good teaching is paying off. This is reflected in the results of both categories of students who join the PTC as the exams they sit for are all set at Kyambogo. While it is true that teachers’ efforts are paying off at the PTC, it is also true that these teachers get very little pay in form of allowance for the work they do, but because they have the feeling for a good job, they keep sacrificing hence the positive results. We learnt that the water system was vandalized hence tap water supply which used to be the norm is not in place as of now. We were informed as well as saw with our eyes the shape in which the buildings are. These need repairs in many cases though the structures are still okay. The wiring in some buildings has to be re-done either because of being quite old and vandalism.
The Acting Principal expressed appreciation to those teachers who were able to sacrifice for no pay when the teaching of privately sponsored teachers was resumed. There were only 5 students at the start and the teachers did whatever was possible to get them to complete the training!
We were told of a miracle that happened later in the course of 2010. There had been a visitor to Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese who paid a courtesy call on Namutamba PTC. Before the visitor left, he was given a few crafts. On getting back home, a fundraising drive was made to help the College. US$ 5,600 was sent to the Bishop at Mityana. The money was credited to the College account and it is unbelievable that that money has transformed the PTC. While they had never procured a computer and photo copier, with the blessing of the donation, a band new DELL computer is in the secretary’s place together with a new printer and a photo copier. Fire extinguishers were bought as well as a compound slasher which is power driven. In place is a huge water tank already installed to harvest rain water. The balance of the money was put on face lifting of some buildings as well as replacing of the electricity wiring for some buildings. We were satisfied with the priorities on which the money was spent, the value for money in that all the items were new and that money did not go into consumption say wages. This gives the hope that for money into the boost to the College image, it is in safe hands when delivered.
The College grows some Maize which helps the feeding of the students, we actually saw some Cassava garden and believe that the expansion of food growing together with other projects like zero – grazing cattle, local chicken and piggery can go a long way in boosting the nutrition of the students as well as earning income.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FIND INFORMATION ON NAMUTAMBA:
The link:
http://www.thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com/
This is a kind appeal to the Government of Uganda on behalf of the people of Namutamba to re-instate Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) among those PTC’s it supports. Namutamba was affected by the decision which was made around 1999 when a number of PTC’s were dropped from government funding. The infrastructure at the College was then used for training teachers for Poly Technical Schools; which arrangement however failed shortly after and hence terminated.
John Kataza - Acting principal Namutamba PTC
With the blessing of Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese, it was agreed to resume the teaching of Grade III Teachers under a self – sponsorship basis. This was after the teachers many of whom were serving at the Demonstration School decided to volunteer to see that the initiative takes off even without pay. It is then that 5 students were registered for the start! The numbers however have since increased, and the trend is that the College can regain its former glory. It is against this background that the administrators of the College and a number of residents of Namutamba would love the institution back to the former status. The fees paid by the students is a drop in the ocean given the desired funding that can have quality teachers put out and more so the numbers given the demand of quality teachers in Uganda and the regional market.
It true but sad to note that majority of the PTC’s that were phased out according to reliable information are Protestant based. This was unfairly done and this request is rightly based given an equitable formula in the phasing out process.
When we visited Namutamba on 7th and 8th March, we were given information concerning what is better termed a miracle which happened at the College. There was a visitor of Mityana diocese who paid a courtesy call on the College. The visitor was taken around and he was seen off with a few presents in form of crafts. Back home, this visitor mobilized resources to the tune of US$5,600. The money was sent to the Bishop at Mityana for the benefit of the College. As a team on a fact finding mission at Namutamba, we were satisfied with the priorities the money was put to. A new Dell Computer with a printer is in place and this is the 1st time a computer entered the administration block at Namutamba PTC! We saw a new photo copier machine, the 1st one in the College. There are fire extinguishers and a Compound Grass Cutter which is engine driven. Out of the administration building, we were shown a very huge water tank bought given that the water system was vandalized. We also saw with our eyes buildings to which new paint shows given the old looking paint on those that were not worked upon. Some money also went to replacement of electric cables some of which had been vandalized. We thank Mr. Kataza to have not been tempted to divert the money, and we are hopeful that any efforts for the revival of Namutamba T T C are in safe hands.
Namutamba Teachers College is the foundation of quality primary teaching. You can only refute it when you are ignorant. The 1st quality primary teaching that was pioneered at Mengo Primary School was spearheaded by teachers many of whom had their roots at Namutamba Teachers’ College. This was followed by the development of Kampala Parents’ School where Hon. Kasole had a big hand yet he had been party to the Mengo Primary School initiative. One cannot be happy to see a College with such firm roots going down the drain with infrastructure in place, yet when quality teachers are needed. I learnt that dr. Ddungu of Naalya S S is an old student of Namutamba TTC, the list of prominent people is really big; the likes of Godfrey Njagala, the Late Jimmy Katumba, Azaria Matembe of Buddo to mention a few. The teachers/tutors who have been through the College are not simple either there is Fagil Mandy who after graduating was posted to Namutamba, David Kiyimba, Hon. Kasole Bwerere is also a former teacher, Abby Kibalama of the Escatos brides, and many more. It is therefore a right proposal to request the Government of Uganda to re-instate Namutamba PTC among the Government aided.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FACT FINDING MISSION TO NAMUTAMBA ON 7th AND 8th MARCH 2011
At around 2.00pm on Monday march 7, 2011 we started on our journey from Kampala to Namutamba. We avoided Mityana road given the construction work on going hence we traveled via Busunju. Just after 4.00pm we were at Namutamba Primary Teachers’ College (PTC) and were fortunate to meet Mr. John Kataza the Acting Principal in office. We had a healthy dialogue with him over the matters of the PTC and Namutamba Demonstration School as he is head of both.
We were gratified by the developments at Namutamba Demonstration School which among others include 9 1st grades in the 2010 Primary Leaving Examinations, yet with a staff of only 13 teachers and a pupil population of 800. The teachers unfortunately don’t have motivation equivalent to the PTA that was in place prior to the UPE arrangement, meaning that without this type of allowance the teachers know very well that the Head teacher has no resources out of which to bail them when in an emergency situation, say when a child falls sick and sound amount of money is needed for treatment. The positive side however is that the teachers are properly qualified.
On behalf of the Namutamba community, I must say that we were gratified to learn about the Government input into the construction of new school structures. The structures are to be commissioned later in the year. What this means is that two necessary requirements for the studying of the children are in place; the teachers who are qualified and the buildings. What is a problem is teachers’ incentives and the feeding of the children mostly at lunch time where sugarless porridge is what the school can afford to offer which porridge costs shs 3,000 a term, but which money many parents either don’t have or are disillusioned to imagine that the UPE package caters even for the feeding of their children. In our opinion, the children should have porridge at break time and such porridge should either have sugar or milk and if possible both. How to be able to supply this porridge remains the issue, though the community effort more so with the involvement of the parents should be able to make an initiative to see the growing of food at school take off as well as some animal husbandry (local chicken can be raised). The parents need to be got out from the dark where many are and get to appreciate the reality that the UPE grant per child is so much and what the money is supposed to be spent on at the same time the timing for the disbursement to the school.
The Demonstration school has the basic infrastructure in form of buildings to help the learning of the children, but toilets and the kitchen are a weak spot which need urgent address by the community.
The Namutamba we love to see back on map should have the Demonstration and PTC all in good shape as far as service delivery is concerned. We were happy to learn that there is an appeal to the government to re-instate Government support to Namutamba PTC, the journey to where the PTC is today has been long, but the feeling is that Government push is necessary in the process of getting the PTC back to its glory more so in training and putting out quality teachers with the Trade mark as Namutamba PTC products. Our team was happy about the development and we pledged to add to the effort through publicizing that community driven wish.
Mr. Kataza expressed gratitude to those parents who have been able to sponsor their children and are now under going training to become Grade III teachers at Namutamba PTC. He told us that the effort of good teaching is paying off. This is reflected in the results of both categories of students who join the PTC as the exams they sit for are all set at Kyambogo. While it is true that teachers’ efforts are paying off at the PTC, it is also true that these teachers get very little pay in form of allowance for the work they do, but because they have the feeling for a good job, they keep sacrificing hence the positive results. We learnt that the water system was vandalized hence tap water supply which used to be the norm is not in place as of now. We were informed as well as saw with our eyes the shape in which the buildings are. These need repairs in many cases though the structures are still okay. The wiring in some buildings has to be re-done either because of being quite old and vandalism.
The Acting Principal expressed appreciation to those teachers who were able to sacrifice for no pay when the teaching of privately sponsored teachers was resumed. There were only 5 students at the start and the teachers did whatever was possible to get them to complete the training!
We were told of a miracle that happened later in the course of 2010. There had been a visitor to Mityana Church of Uganda Diocese who paid a courtesy call on Namutamba PTC. Before the visitor left, he was given a few crafts. On getting back home, a fundraising drive was made to help the College. US$ 5,600 was sent to the Bishop at Mityana. The money was credited to the College account and it is unbelievable that that money has transformed the PTC. While they had never procured a computer and photo copier, with the blessing of the donation, a band new DELL computer is in the secretary’s place together with a new printer and a photo copier. Fire extinguishers were bought as well as a compound slasher which is power driven. In place is a huge water tank already installed to harvest rain water. The balance of the money was put on face lifting of some buildings as well as replacing of the electricity wiring for some buildings. We were satisfied with the priorities on which the money was spent, the value for money in that all the items were new and that money did not go into consumption say wages. This gives the hope that for money into the boost to the College image, it is in safe hands when delivered.
The College grows some Maize which helps the feeding of the students, we actually saw some Cassava garden and believe that the expansion of food growing together with other projects like zero – grazing cattle, local chicken and piggery can go a long way in boosting the nutrition of the students as well as earning income.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
FIND INFORMATION ON NAMUTAMBA:
The link:
http://www.thegloryofnamutamba.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
CHILDREN LEARNING BY DOING NEEDS TO BE PROMOTED AT NAMUTAMBA DEM SCHOOL
At Namutamba Dem School, there is the need to give our children a good learning environment. Such an environment may call for having a well furnished room where chidren experience with a number of items and hence make discoveries. The photos above illustrate the pictorial appearance of such room.
Most children can profit from all the facilities developed for them from birth to adulthood. After the school period they are ready for adult life.
“Learning by doing together” is a way to help these children develop abilities that are central to family and community life, so that they become able participants in their homes and wider social environments. It is based on the Functional Curriculum Approach. In this approach children learn relevant abilities by doing them together with others when and where these abilities are “naturally” imbedded in daily life.
IT IS DOING THAT COUNTS: SUPPORT CHILDREN'S CREATIVITY AND EXPRESSION
When you think of the word "creative" or "creativity", what does it mean to you? Does it mean doing or making something? Perhaps you believe being creative means being able to play a musical instrument, paint a picture or write a poem. Everyone seems to admire creativity. But there is not one definition of creativity that everyone agrees upon.
The definitions of creativity are varied. But they all include:
* Being able to think of new ways of doing things
* Being able to look at something in a new way
* Being able to solve problems and come up with unique solutions
* Being able to create something that is new, different, original
Creativity is multidimensional. It can be a trait, skill, ability, or an approach, or all of these. When you are creative, you go beyond the typical or normal approach to arrive at something completely new and unique. Creativity means stretching your mind to new corners. Creativity is one of those - "I can't describe it, but I know it when I see it" - ideas.
Qualities of Being Creative
We all have an idea of what creativity is. But is it important? And how does focusing on it help your child? If you think of creating and being creative as a process, with several steps involved, you can break down and look at the pieces involved in being creative. When being creative, whether it's drawing a picture or trying to figure out how to make something work, several elements are in play. Developing these elements can affect a child's growth and development on all levels.
Elements used that can be further developed in the creative process:
* Self-expression: Children can express what they see, feel, hear, and think; it can help a child find their own unique style
* Curiosity: Children are allowed to follow through on their hunches, impulses, and natural desire to find out what things are, how they work, what will happen "if"
* Exploration/Experimentation: Children can try different ways to use an object, toy, or work on a project
* Imagination: Children are free to fantasize, engage in imaginative play, or come up with many possibilities for whatever they are focusing on, often trying things or coming up with possibilities we think are 'impossible'
* Open-ended thinking: Children are stretching their thinking skills by not having to come up with only one possible outcome or answer
These elements or qualities that are natural in creativity are important to children's development. They provide a foundation for children to acquire problem-solving skills, feel good about themselves, develop a sense of uniqueness, and help to expand their intellectual or cognitive skills, as well as their perseverance. These are important skills that children can use in daily life and continue to use as they grow into adults.
What to do with your child at different stages
Age Group Activities
Infants
* Carry your baby around to give him the experience of movement
* Have colorful print materials in the room for her to see
* Sing and talk to your baby - rhymes, lullabies
* Play music
* Give your baby safe household items or toys to play with
Toddlers
* Provide lots of movement activities - move like animals, dance to music
* Have crayons, paints and other materials available for art activities
* Toddlers often like to play with real objects - boxes, pans, keys - more than toys
* Read stories and get your toddler into talking about the stories or making up their own
* Take them on nature walks, discoveries
* Water play is always popular: let them play in water or in the tub with things to experiment with
* Ask your toddler open-ended questions to get their imaginations going ("How can we decorate this?")
Preschoolers
* Fantasy play or dramatic play is the hallmark of the preschool years - give them lots of materials and opportunities to role play, as in dress-up clothes.
* Ask your preschooler open-ended questions. Have her make up stories, pretend write and illustrate stories.
* Direct their play at times, giving them materials and themes to work on
* Continue having music and movement activities
* Provide cooking or science activities to involve them in
School-Agers
* Imaginative play still abounds for school-agers - maybe imitating heroes or popular culture figures
* Give child more decisions to make, even making 'mistakes' to test out their thinking skills or solutions to problems
* Write stories, illustrate, tell stories
* More formal physical and art activities - music, dance, sports
It's the Process Not the Outcome
All children are creative. All the elements used in the creative process are natural and inborn for children. All children need self-expression, are curious, like to explore, are imaginative and don't know what is the expected outcome or answers unless they are told. All of these natural qualities can be supported by providing opportunities for children to use them.
The outcome of most creative efforts is usually something you can touch, see, hear or taste (such as a quilt, a building, a song or a delicious meal). When your child uses crayons, a finished drawing may be the result of your child being engaged and creative. However, it's not the drawing you want to encourage, but the process of creating it. Try not to focus on what your child creates or be concerned with the way it turns out.
Being creative is also not the same as having "talent". Not all children will have great skills in music, art, dance, writing, or problem-solving. But they all deserve the opportunity to participate for the sake of fun and expression. Your child doesn't have to be "good" at it, she has to do it and feel free to do it. So, what can you do? Let go of expectations and let your child think, imagine, explore, be curious and express herself!
Activities to Support Creativity
Parents and child care providers can encourage creativity in children. The best way for your child to be creative is through play. Play is the foundation of creativity and is the way that young children learn. To encourage your child's creative development:
* let your child play - free and spontaneous play
* give enough time for play
* provide materials that are interesting and varied, and encourage her to explore
* allow your child to take the lead in creativity without having an expected outcome
* support your child's efforts and help him feel good about his attempts
* engage your child in activities that provide a wide variety of experiences (art, music, building, storytelling, dramatic play, reading, puzzles)
Allowing Your Child to Express Himself
Encouraging creativity builds children's thinking skills. Children learn to problemsolve and come up with their own ways to do just about anything. Parents and child care providers, can find it difficult to allow children enough time to fully explore materials and be involved in activities. It may also be hard for adults to drop all expectations of how they think something should be done (for example: how a house should be drawn, or how to build a bridge). But it's important to allow children to express and try their own way. Self-expression and being involved in creative activities not only helps them learn, but is a lot of fun for children. Let your child learn by playing, exploring, imagining, creating, and ultimately discovering new ways seeing the world.
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