Kigezi High School Junior: Recalling the history-making Class of '66

By Muniini K. Mulera

Uganda

February 12, 2017

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Dr. Charles Musinguzi mwene Barabogoza and Dr. Muniini Kwehangaana mwene Mulera, fellow inmates of Kigezi High School Junior (1965-66), in Mburara, Nkore, Uganda on January 24, 2017.

It was our great luck that we should be the group that would close the chapter on the junior high school experience at Kigezi High School. Like elsewhere in Uganda, the system was changed from 8 years of pre-senior secondary school to seven years. So in 1966, primary 7 and Junior 2 students sat the national secondary school entrance examination.

We had joined Kigezi High School in January 1965, preteen boys that were beginning to grasp the concepts of western education and the English language. We had spent the two years of junior high school soaking in new information like sponges and developing friendships that would last a lifetime.

Our exit from Kigezi High School at the end of November 1966 shut the doors to what had been the finest junior secondary school in Kigezi and one of the very best in Uganda. It would become an exclusive senior secondary school. So we were the last in a long line of boys that had been nurtured by the "old school" since its founding in 1922. Among the earlier students had been numerous folks that had had or would have a major impact in the world.

Space does not allow a comprehensive listing of all KHS alumni between 1922 and 1966. (I have a full list, compiled in 1972 by Eridadi Kworoba mwene Kanyonyi, a member of the Class of ’66.)

Those familiar with Kigezi and Uganda would easily recognize names like Nasani Bwankosya and Semu Rwakiseeta (Class of ’22); Erinesti Nyabagabo, B. Mbarinda and Y. Rwabaimozi (Class of ’23); Festo Rwamunaahe (Class of ’26); Yeremiya Bigombe, Norman Kanyarutookye and D. Nzabandora (Class of ’27); Filemon Kitaburaaza, Y. Mbareeba, K, Ntauruhunga, D. Rubarema, E. Kariboobo, Charles Kakyira, Semu Kasigazi and Y. Rwamayaga (Class of ’28); E. Ssali Balaba, W. Semitarabana and Y. Kakwangyire (Class of ’29); John Bikangaga, John W. Rwamafa, K. Ntamutambo and Erisa Bashungura (Class of ’30); Kosiya Kikira and Z. Nyamunanira (Class of ’31); Semu Rugarama Itazya and Matiya Rwankwenda (Class of ’33), Y.K. Buregyeya, Nuha Kakwenzire Buhaburwa and J.W. Katashaaya (Class of ’34), Festo Kivengyere and Peter Kabagambe (Class of ’35); Frank Kalimuzo, Sepi Mukombe-Mpambara and E. Bugaari (Class of ’36), James Katarikawe, Joseph Bitwari, A. Rwagize and K. Kifaku (Class of ’38); Ezra Kisigo Mulera, Festo Karwemera, Justus Byagagaire, Ezironi Kakuyo, Kamu Karekaho Karegyesa, Eridadi Kangye, Eli Nasani Bisaamunyu, G. William Zaaribwegirire, N. Rwabwera, K. Biryabarema, E. Mahega, Daniel Ndarubweine, Nzamukworeka (Class of ’40)………John Nagenda, Matthew N. Rukikeire, George W. Kanyeihamba, Ezra Nkwasibwe, John W. Rwomushana, Joram Katambira (Class of ’53); ………James Kikira Mugisha, Ezra Sunday Suruma, Katuura, (Class of ‘60); …..Ruhakana Rugunda, Eldad Tukahiirwa, E. Tumwesigye, Topher Twesigye and Medad Katashaaya (Class of ’61); Shaka Ssali, Tumusiime Mutebile, Dutki Bakeiha and Kisimba Masiko (Class of ’62); Peter Ndimbirwe Mugyenyi and Patrick Buhenga (Class of ’63); John Patrick Amama Mbabazi, Sam Biruga, Godfrey Kakira Kukundakwe, Jotham Musinguzi, Emmanuel Kaijuka Mutabaazi, Hans B. Mwesigwa and Ambrose Buregyeya Turigye (Class of ’64).

We did not realize it at the time, but to be the final chapter of Kigezi High School Junior was an honour, albeit an accidental one. Of course there were no ceremonies to mark the event. No graduations, no parties, no speeches and not even a special prayer for the departing teenagers who were about to head into the vast unknown  outside the safety of our beloved school. None of that mattered to us. A more powerful experience was alive in its darkest form.

As I have narrated elsewhere, our final days at Kigezi High School were extremely traumatic. A senior one student (together with two accomplices) stabbed Mr. Nasani Rwakaana, our beloved English and Biology teacher, on the night of November 10, 1966. Mr. Rwakaana died the next day. Fifty years later, I still feel a shiver down the spine as I re-live that very dark experience. We had no emotional support from adults. There was no counseling of any kind. We, the kids, supported each other through days of tears and fear and indescribable confusion.

Now listen to this: we sat for the junior leaving examinations a few days after our teacher’s death. When the exam was over, we left the school, with heavy hearts, only sustained by the youthful confidence that came with our carefree lives. (Psychologists would say we repressed the memory and carried on. What effect it had on us is not known, but I cannot think about Kigezi High School without remembering Mr. Rwakaana. We still talk about it as though it was a recent occurrence. When my wife, my daughter and I visited Dr. Charles Musinguzi mwene Barabogoza last month, we naturally recalled that terrible event.)

I remember us walking down the hill from Kigezi High School, with our suitcases on our heads, heading to our various homes. Mine was a short walk across the valley to Makanga Hill where my parents lived. After depositing my belongings at home, I dashed down to the central bus park to bid farewell to my friends. I did not know that it would be the very final farewell for some of my brothers.

One felt as though one had just metamorphosed into adulthood, though one had just stepped into teenage. I spent the next moth in idle living while I waited for the examination results.

By God’s grace, we had had outstanding teachers in Junior 1 and 2 who had prepared us very well for the national examinations. These teachers were Charles Kabuga, Nasani Rwakaana, Stanley Bamwanga Kinyata, David Kanyeihamba, Gaetano Rubarema and Zabuloni Kabaza.  My first cousin, Willian Elisha Makosya, who was in the senior section of the school, had been my personal coach.

The vast majority of the Class of ’66 passed very well indeed and were admitted to the great schools of the day, including Kigezi High School, Kigezi College, Butobere, Makobore High School, Ntare School, Nyakasura School and King’s College, Budo. They went on to excel in those schools and beyond and have served humanity very well indeed. We are scattered around the globe. Some have not seen each other since November ’66. Sadly, many are no longer with us, their premature deaths a painful sore in our hearts.

Here is the Roll Call for the Class of 65/66:
(† = Deceased)

1. Bagamuhunda, F.
2. Bakaaruhire, Esau
3. Bakesiga, E.J.
4. Bananuka, F.
5. Banyangyirakyi Y. F. (Yosamu Baguma)
6. Bashabe, E.
7. Basheija, G.
8. Bazeirwe, E.G.
9. Besigye, B.
10. Besigye, E.
11. Besiime, D. K. †
12. Biryabarema, Peter B. †
13. Bitaine, J.
14. Bunwasi, A.E.
15. Byabagambi, J. W.
16. Byamugisha, G.
17. Byandusya, Franco

18. Byarugaba John Hannington Zaribwegyirire †
19. Gahima, James Ngirabakunzi †
20. Kaakare J. J.
21. Kabatangaare
22. Kagonyeera, S.
23. Kajoka C.
24. Kamugisha J. E. (Manuel Muranga)
25. Kanyandeku W. (Kalikwisya)
26. Kanyangabo A.
27. Kasule C.W.N. †
28. Kateiguta E.J. †
29. Katungyi P.
30. Kayaama Henry
31. Korutaro H.
32. Kwehangaana F. (Muniini K. Mulera)
33. Kwizera C.J.
34. Kworoba E.K.
35. Kyomukama L.
36. Magezi E.G.
37. Mirembe John Kasi†
38. Mizeerero G.
39. Mugisha E.
40. Mugyema Arthur Mbareeba †
41. Mugyenyi C.E.
42. Mugyenzi Jack K.B.
43. Mungyereza N.
44. Musinguzi Charles Barabogoza
45. Mwesigwa C.
46. Ndatuje James Rugyeegye
47. Ndwanirira, A.
48. Ndyomugyenyi J.K.
49. Nsabiyunva J.B.
50. Rihimbisibwe E.
51. Rutagarama E.S.
52. Ruteeshereka E.
53. Rwaboona, Stephen Katashaaya
54. Rwabwigye C.G.
55. Sabiiti W.
56. Sabiiti, F.
57. Sabiiti, Stanley Rugunda †
58. Safari M. †
59. Tibenda, G.B.
60. Tibenderana G. (Twenda)
61. Tibihika J.
62. Tindigarukayo, James Kazaara
63. Tugume J. Magabo
64. Tuhuumwire G.W.
65. Tukamuhaabwa Z. (Elvis Muhaabwa)
66. Tukwasibwe
67. Tumuheirwe S.
68. Tumusiime N.
69. Tumwebaze Medadi Ruhindi †
70. Tumwesigye M.
71. Turyagyenda Henry Bagyema
72. Turyagyenda Y.B.
73. Turyahikayo J.J.
74. Turyamuhimbisa C.J.
75. Turyamureeba D.
76. Turyamusiima
77. Twesigomwe J.
78. Twinamasiko Charles Tamutambo
79. Ziribugyire E.C.

I honour each and every one of you my friends. Thank you for being wonderful classmates, playmates, teachers and brothers. The records of our individual and collective mischief must remain classified until 2066.

We honour those who have died. May their souls rest in peace even as their memories continue to bring us reason to smile, to hope and to remember our youth.

I would love to hear from all of you my brothers of ’66.   Where are you? How are you? What are you up to? I would love to hear from the children and/or spouses of those who have died.  May the Grace of our Lord be with you and may He enable us to meet one more time at Kigezi High School.

MKM