Dear all,
The most disturbing news to the Community of St. Mary's College Kisubi, the week that has ended is: "We have now learnt that the Cancer that
is disturbing Brother (Dr) Cosmas Kafeero, has spread to other organs [digestive system] subsequently
making him very weak. His doctors totally ruled out any further operations to
contain the cancer.
There is no quick fix to the situation… He needs
our prayers to bear the current discomfort he is going through."
I thank
God that I was able to reach out to Brother Kafeero at the time of the
preparations for the SMACK Centenary, and indeed he was resourceful.
Below, I have attempted to reproduce what the 'learned' Brother told me
so that those who do not know him can get to understand him and his
works.
William Kituuka Kiwanuka
Lourdel House
1974 - 1979
DUC IN ALTUM
Brother Kafeero and Classmates (S 6 - 1966) at SMACK
Brother (Dr) Cosmas
Kafeero Headmaster – (1980-1983)
The Brother has a PhD
Brother Cosmas Kafeero the Headmaster
Brother Cosmas Kafeero was
the second black Headmaster at St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK). He decentralized power and had a human
approach to his staff.
Before
he was appointed Headmaster, Brother Kafeero used to ride in a Datsun
Car seen in the picture and he used to be a practical Sports teacher.
The Brother seized on the
new chapter of the political scene after the removal of Idi Amin from
Presidency to establish a democratic administration at SMACK. This was against
the background that he had been at St. Mary’s since 1960 and was quite
acquainted with the strength and weaknesses of the school. He borrowed a leaf from the USA High School
Administration and from sister schools here in Uganda, that is Mt. St. Mary’s
Namagunga, Gayaza High School to mention a few.
A Constitution was drafted to involve all students and teachers in the
management of the school.
Hon. Namirembe Bitamazire (third from right)
visited the College during Brother Kafeero’s term as Headmaster
Pro-UPC students dominated
the first elected student body. The Head
Prefect had arms and a room at Lake Victoria Hotel. A student purge had to be taken and 96
students were given an indefinite suspension.
The Headmaster ably defended this decision when the Ministry of
Education raised hell out of the issue.
The new innovation in the students’ administration helped to eliminate
students’ riots.
Oyite Ojok
Things however were not to
be that smooth sailing. The school was
made part of the Bush War by UPC stalwarts.
The people who featured significantly were Night Kulabako a Sub-County
chief at Katabi, Paul Muwanga (Vice-President; but with Executive Powers),
Oyite Ojok and Tito Okello (Army Commander).
Night Kulabako – The Gombolola Chief Who gave Bro. Kafeero hard time
The Elections were held
and UPC emerged victor, but it was alleged that UPC had stolen the victory and
results were contested. This led to
political conflicts with a vengeance.
This saw the Birth of Museveni’s Bush War and Kayira’s Uganda Freedom
Movement (UFM). While Museveni was in
the Luweero Triangle, Kayira stationed his troops in Mpigi District; and St.
Mary’s College happened to have belonged to Mpigi (though now it is in Wakiso
District).
St. Mary’s College entered
the arena of armed struggle following Kayira’s attack on Malire (Lubiri) Army
Barracks, which he mounted from around Rubaga Cathedral in 1981.
Kayira’s casualties were
ferried along Lake Victoria to Kisubi Hospital.
Apparently, intelligence was leaked to Night Kulabako the Sub-County
Chief at Katabi and the Commander of the 6th Battalion, that the wounded Kayira
men had received treatment at Brother Kafeero’s Kisubi Hospital. It was alleged that Brother Kafeero was
harbouring Kayira’s men in the school.
At this time, Kayira’s men were within about 5 kilometers in the forests
and jungle surrounding the shores of Lake Victoria. Not only was the Headmaster called a fool; he
was also labeled an enemy of the country.
That he was running a Hospital where Kayira’s men were treated, printing
Munno and Musizi where articles criticizing the government were
run. That he was soon to face the arm of
government. (Indeed he was later forced to go to exile to Kenya – Editor)
Kaweesa with his Late wife Teo Nalonga
On November 6, 1981 Teo
Nalonga who was 6 months pregnant; a nurse at Kisubi Hospital and wife of
Mr Kaweesi (a Quartermaster at St. Mary’s College Kisubi and Chairman of the
Democratic Party branch of Kawuku) was arrested and interrogated by
torturing. Night Kulabako and the
soldiers who were involved in the torture wanted to know from Teo the
whereabouts of Mr Kaweesi.
The soldiers were holding her legs and feet
and Night tossing herself on the pregnant belly! Later on, Teo died!
The report of the
Postmortem, which was done at Entebbe Hospital, indicated that the cause of
death was a ruptured uterus, which led to a stillbirth. These were however warning signals to Brother
Kafeero.
The Late Paulo Muwanga
There was a letter dated
January 7, 1982, which was dropped in the compound of Kisubi Parish Church that
was summoning Brother Kafeero to Abaita Babiri (trading center 18 miles Entebbe
Highway) for an important meeting. Three
people who eventually became a thorn in the flesh of the Headmaster addressed
the meeting. These were Sam Mugwisa,
Paul Muwanga and Night Kulabako. In the
meeting, Brother Kafeero was the topic of castigation and insult. There were questions like “What does that
stupid fool Kafeero think he is?” “What does he consider himself to be?” “Is he bullet proof?” He has developed a
habit of insulting His Excellence the President in his papers; Musizi
and Munno. Earlier, it was
alleged that Brother Kafeero threatened to kill Vice President Paulo Muwanga,
Oyite Ojok and Tito Okello when he interfered with the Presidential convoy at
Savio School… the matters went to court, Kafeero was implicated a collaborator with
the rebels!
A week after the Abaita
Babiri meeting, another letter was dropped at Kisubi Parish Church. The letter was instructing Brother Kafeero to
summon all people on Kisubi Hill to be addressed. The institutions to be met included St.
Mary’s College Kisubi, Savio School, Kisubi Hospital, Kisubi Parish, Mt. St.
Teresa, Kisubi Boys. The others included
St. Joseph Technical Institute, Kisubi Seminary and Gogonya Convent. All the parties assembled at St. Mary’s
College main football pitch. Brother
Kafeero was told in no uncertain terms that if ever Kisubi Hospital treated
wounded rebels without the army being informed, a common grave would be dug in
the football field and all would be buried alive!
Two days later, at around
6pm, a deafening artillery fire tore through the evening atmosphere. At that time Brother Kafeero was driving to
Nabinonya (Lake Victoria side) to switch off the Water pump. He was stopped at Mt. St. Teresa Carpentry
Shop where he found soldiers manning a roadblock. He was told that the road to Nabinonya had
been mined.
He also learnt that the
soldiers were destined to SMACK. These soldiers ransacked Savio School
staff. The members of staff of St.
Mary’s College who had come to the scene for curiosity sake were beaten and
told to empty their pockets “toa yote”.
Brother Kafeero turned
around and instructed all the boys of St. Mary’s College to leave their
dormitories and classrooms and assemble in an orderly manner in front of the
school chapel, and that they were not to ask any questions nor answer any put
to them. The soldiers arrived at the
school, made a thorough search for the rebels and unfortunately found none.
Several days later,
another letter was delivered to the Headmaster’s office instructing the
Headmaster to take all the students to Katabi, the Sub-county chief’s office so
that screening for the rebels is done.
Brother Kafeero hired buses of Uganda Transport Company (UTC) to take
all the students to Entebbe. No rebel
was identified. The sheer number of boys
in St. Mary’s College overwhelmed the Sub-county chief, and she simply told the
Headmaster to get the students back to school.
The
two photos above show the fundraising which Brother Kafeero was
involved in. in the photos, the Late Prof. Sebastian Kyalwazi as Board
Chairman was greatly involved.
As SMACK 75 Celebrations
approached in June 1983, threats to the school continued. A day before the 75th Anniversary for SMACK,
the Headmaster Brother Cosmas Kafeero and the Deputy Headmaster Late J. C.
Kiwanuka received letters instructing them to leave in the interest of National
Security.
The evening of that day,
armed men heavily guarded the school premises.
Brother Kafeero had to leave Uganda for Nairobi, Kenya. In the meantime, Honourable Ssebaana Kizito
(a Democratic Party MP) brought this matter to the attention of Parliament, but
the decision was never to be reversed.
Hon. Ssebaana Kizito
When Brother Kafeero was
expelled from Uganda, 24 hours before the D-Day of the 75 years’ Celebrations
for SMACK, it was the Late Mr Moro, Managing Director of Stirling, Honourable
Ssebaana Kizito, Mr Ssemanobe (Operation’s Manager, Uganda General Merchandise
Ltd), who fund-raised Kenya Shillings 20,000 which helped him to pay the fees
for his sister and 7 nieces and nephews, whom he used to support through
offering his services as a teacher in various schools. After meeting the fees, the balance of the
money helped him start off life as a refugee in Kenya.
The Origin of Works on
SMACK-75 Road
(As told to Willy Kituuka
by Brother Kafeero)
It was on Monday 6, June
1983 when Mr. Moro, the then Managing Director of Stirling Road Construction
Company called at St. Mary’s College Kisubi wanting to see the Headmaster. At that time, the Headmaster’s office was
under key and lock following a letter from Prof. Isaac Newton Ojok terminating
with immediate effect the school administration. Mr Moro traced Brother Kafeero the Headmaster
at the Brothers’ Residence. He wanted a
place in senior one for his son Kizito.
The Headmaster replied that there was no place available! Mr Moro went to his knees, he said he had
served the country for so many years and can’t deserve a place at the
school! This reaction touched the
Headmaster, and a place was offered.
Some of the tractors which worked on the SMACK 75 Road - a project during Brother Kafeero's headmastership.
Mr Moro asked what he
could offer in return to show his appreciation.
Brother Kafeero told him that they needed a road, and that the Finance
Committee had just enough money to cater for other constructions and the meal
on the D-Day for the SMACK –75 Celebrations.
Moro asked, “The road only?” He
said this was no problem on his part. Mr
Moro promised to come back to the school the following day to work out the
necessary details for the road construction.
On Tuesday 7 June 1983 Moro sent a Surveyor. The Surveying was done and on 8th June Road
Working Machines were got from Katende along Masaka Highway where Stirling
Company was working and stationed at SMACK.
The road was to pass through an area covered with large trees and
people’s gardens. Moro compensated the
garden owners and work was started at very high speed so as to be complete by
June 11 for the D-Day Celebrations on June 12 when the road would be
commissioned.
Late Cardinal Emmanuel Nsubuga was SMACK C.E.O at the time of the Celebrations
When the road touched
Kampala-Entebbe highway, the agents of the Ministry of Works stopped the
exercise, saying, written permission was required from the Minister to
authorize the approach to the Highway.
The road was however graded and surface dressed with pre-mix
bitumen. Moro promised to complete the
work on the road so that it could last at least 10 years. Unfortunately, Moro was murdered as he waited
for the gate to his residence to be opened at Muyenga.
SMACK had a new road,
named SMACK 75, which was commissioned on June 11. Unfortunately, Brother Kafeero did not attend
because security personnel had threatened to arrest him on June 10 if he did
not leave the country immediately!
The Historical Perception
to the Science Orientation at SMACK
By Brother (Dr) Cosmas
Kafeero
Former Headmaster SMACK
(1980 – 1983)
Over the years, St. Mary’s
College Kisubi has been variously referred to as the cradle, nursery, humdinger
and an institution that generates some of the most brilliant brains in Science,
Technology and Medicine. The school has
an inbuilt bias towards Science and its “search engine,” that is
Mathematics. The few Arts students taken
annually at A’ level constitute a formidable force in the Judiciary and the
World of business. These attributes are
justified by the academic performance in A’ level since 1962 when for the first
time in History, the College graduated over 50 students to join Makerere
College (when it was a Constituent College of London University). The record reveals a remarkable and unique
abilities and strong inclination towards sciences.
Dr. Alex Godwin Coutinho, one among the many Old Boy Scientists created by the Science orientation of SMACK.
Throughout the period,
1962 - 2005, A’ level candidates taking Science have been making up 90% of the
total number of graduates from our Alma Mater. The Alma Mater boasts of Excellent
Scientists, Engineers, Medical Doctors, Agriculturalists, and Veterinary
Doctors to mention some categories.
The Science Foundation
explained.
The author has consulted
extensively and the following are the facts behind the extraordinary Science
and Technology Human Resource contribution by SMACK.
The History of St. Mary’s
College Kisubi was the cause and effect of the coming of the Brothers of
Christian Instruction to East Africa in 1926.
Since that time, the Brothers have run the school. This cultural intermarriage (White and Black)
has given a unique characteristic compared to other schools such as King’s
College Buddo, Gayaza High School, and Namilyango College.
It is alleged that the
first French Speaking Missionaries from Canada deliberately, tactfully and
strategically laid the Foundation of Science and its search engine
Mathematics. Buddo in contrast was
founded on British English. Buddo’s goal
was to educate leaders especially for the developing political scene. The strategy was to develop an English
Culture for the Buddonians that is to be eloquent and fluent as public
speakers. Kisubi Brothers tactfully
avoided the hurdle of eloquence and fluency in English by taking on Science of
matter, energy, number and size. These
options do not require a lot of spoken language.
These strategies have been
the means to attaining set goals completely in contrast with most schools, not
only in Uganda but also in East Africa and beyond. These strategies prescribe key policy arenas
and decision points, taking into account identified and achievable goals and
operational circumstances of the school, SMACK in a manner, which has warranted
ease and convenience of optional operation and maximal accomplishment. The underlying consideration in evolving the
necessary human resource and skills has been the desire on the part of the
Brothers to depart from the business – as – usual or stereotype or status quo
approach to a strategic approach to development. The strategic approach has been consistently
to be focused, with long-term in object and dynamic in policy and decision
making outlook.
Thus, the formulation and
implementation of strategies for attaining Science – Mathematics programme
entailed consideration of several factors and activities: The Brothers embarked on active recruitment
of teachers of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics from Canada, and
Economics and Geography from United Kingdom.
Second, most of the Missionary Brothers that were recruited especially
in the period of 1950-1970 were young, flexible, and resilient with little
English. Hence, a crush programme had to
be organized for them to learn English language. These could spend about 6 months at
Southampton or Liverpool in England learning the language.
