By KT Reporter
The alumni of St Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) have embarked on a fundraising aimed at constructing more structures to reduce the current classroom congestion. Speaking at the launch of a book honouring the life and service of Brother Anthony Kyemwa the first black headteacher of SMACK, the old boys and girls said currently each classroom has at least 90 students which they say is too much and need it reduced to at least 40 students per teacher or classroom.
Saturninus Kasozi Mulindwa, a SMACK alumnus of 1969-1974 said they have set up an endowment fund which will not only be used to set up new structures in order to have a ratio of one teacher 40 students (1:40), but also help disadvantaged children who would like to join the school.
“Even this book we are launching today is part of the endowment fund to develop the school. For every copy you buy at 100,000, the proceeds go direct to the endowment fund and it will be used for development,” Mulindwa said.
The book titled: Carving Eagles Shaping Generations, has been authored by Prof Steven Kaddu and Engineer Peter Ssebanakitta, purposely to recognize and bring to life his extraordinary service during the turbulent times of Idi Amin Dada as Uganda President from 1971-1979 when he was overthrown.
Ssebanakitta said it is the first book he has written or co-written. He said he has always thought that writing a book is almost very impossible but he has now realized it is fulfilling. The engineer said he has always been encouraged by his sisters to write a book because they thought he knows a lot from the past and has experience to write about.
According to Ssebanakitta, Brother Anthony Kyemwa was known as a teacher, mentor, or a colleague but his relationship with him was a little bit different,” Ssebanakitta said. “He was my uncle who I had never met until I joined SMACK. He was a younger brother to my mother but he would not pamper me. I was probably more intimidated than the other students because I knew he had a direct line with my mother who I knew was a disciplinarian.”
Prof Kaddu, in his speech delivered by his brother Prof Michael Kawooya, thanked everyone who made the book possible. Kaddu said what is seen today is a result of collective effort which they could not summarize in a tribute.
“We have written this book because we could not write a tribute about Brother Anthony Kyemwa,” Kaddu explained. “A tribute honors a moment and a book honors a legacy. A book allows us to know what a moment cannot and it allows to preserve memory. The book explains how he matters and how he shaped lives. The book is a whole continuity.”
Ssebanakitta further explained that he came to understand brother Anthony was not only protective yet very demanding. “The discipline with humanity would talk about a great man. This book, seeks to capture, it tells the story of brother Anthony, he was a man who believed in education. He was instilling discipline. He prepared young people to serve others,” Ssebanakitta said.
Prof Kaddu said the book is a tribute to Brother Anthony Kyemwa and a gift to the future generation. To Prof Kawooya, Bro Kyemwa was more than a mentor. “He examined the person he interacted with. I could see academic excellence; I could see determination.”
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