THE LIBERAL REVEREND. Mid-first term in the year 2001, the board that had names of headmasters that had served the school located in the main hall was updated with new writings, “BERNARD WAKWARE 1998-2001.” That clearly meant that the headmaster`s reign was finally over. The time I joined senior one in Kigezi College Butobere in the year 1999, I found that Wakware was the boss. He was a tall, dark man that hailed from the Eastern part of the country that was no nonsense and had no problem with chasing students. A case in point is that Two (2) weeks in the school, he chased away over ten (10) students for teasing and bullying us senior one students. That created a lot of fear among the “members” but to the rest of us “ENGATA” (freshers) it brought us some peace. Apart from chasing the naughty students, Wakware was too serious with academics and the school was always top in the district when it came to A ‘level examinations. So when it was confirmed that Bernard was leaving, there was a lot of nervousness amongst us students about who the next big man would be. Different Grapevine information started moving around about different names and so we kept our fingers crossed. Finally, the real name was announced to us and luckily, many students that hailed from Rukungiri knew him as MARIBATISO (nickname). We were told that Rev Dr. David Turyagumanawe had previously worked as an agriculture teacher in Makobore High School, Rukungiri district and that he was a good man. Nonetheless, we didn’t believe them given that he was an Anglican cleric coming to lead a naughty boys` school. The majority us believed that we were in for danger. No single day was set to bid farewell to Wakware. He continued working normally although we knew that he was on the move. A few weeks towards the 2001 presidential elections, we were told to go home and register with the electoral commission and later vote meaning that we had a holiday. Which student hates that? While at home, it was announced over the media that the presidential elections had been postponed meaning that our holiday had also been extended. We waited home for almost a month, voted and moved back to school. On arriving, it was announced that the new big man was around but still he was nowhere to be seen. Finally, the Reverend unveiled himself the next assembly that took place on the next Monday dressed in a grey suit and black socks but in open shoes. He sat quietly between the deputy headmaster in charge of academics and the deputy headmaster in charge of Administration. Once all teachers had spoken, Dombolo (nickname), the boss in charge of administration invited him to speak. On standing up, he first smiled, greeted us, and introduced himself. He then said that his leadership would emphasize on academic excellence and the students` welfare calling from applause from students. He however noted that all could be done if students were highly disciplined. When he started working, he surprised the majority of us. Whereas an Anglican Reverend was expected to be mean, he was instead a MUKYAKAZE (lifyst). Within a short time, he installed DSTV in the school and even permitted students to watch it the evenings. That was the first time I watched music videos on Channel O and football made in Europe (European leagues). The man also connected us to girls of Immaculate Heart Nyakibale and for the first time in 2001, A ‘level students danced with the beautiful and sharp girls on their farewell party. We also danced with them at our party in 2002. Maribatiso also introduced the eating of matooke in the Dining hall and whenever he would be happy, he would also buy sodas for the whole school. Good life just! Of course the daily posho and beans were also of good quality. It should not be forgotten that he was the man that secured a loan to buy the first school bus commonly referred to as EKYISINIYA which still exists twelve years later. He didn’t stop at us the students. Teachers were also introduced to having fun. For the first time, the once dormant staff room became a hub of fun. Of course, DSTV was always connected and would show all day and once in a while, he could buy them beers, they play music and we peep at them dancing. The school football team was strengthened by buying ABAKYUBA (players) from other schools, acquiring them New jerseys and turning the school into the district champion. The main hall was repaired and pimped with multi-colour lights thereby turning it into almost a dancing club. With the styled up- liberal reverend, Siniya became a good place to live in and in a short time, nobody missed Wakware. Nonetheless, it should not be forgotten that it is within his time that the school started registering failures in national examinations. In the year 2001, the performance declined moderately but when it came to our year 2002, it was disaster. Only nineteen (19) students managed to appear in first grade in the O`level examinations. For A ‘level it was even worse. For that reason therefore, the majority of us thought it wise to desert from the beloved boys` school to sister schools we hated. The school life may have been fun but the truth is that we lost focus when it came to books and of course, the major reason students go to school is to perform well academically. On the Contrary, life may have been boring during Wakware`s time but students concentrated on their books hence the good performances. Even in life, the day you shift from your OMURAMWA (focus) and concentrate on fun, don’t expect to harvest anything big.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:06:01 +0000
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