Birth: February 12, 1930 at Kisomoro, Uganda.
Novitiate: January 1,
1952 (Kisubi).
Perpetual Profession: January
1, 1958.
Brother Anthony KYEMWA passed
away at Kisubi on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, at the age of 87, of which he
spent 65 years in Religious life.
|
1955
|
Kisubi,
Mount St Teresa
|
Student
|
|
1956
|
Rubaga
|
Student
|
|
1959
|
Kyegobe,
St Leo’s College
|
Teacher
|
|
1960
|
Kitovu,
St Henry’s College
|
Teacher
|
|
1961
|
Kyegobe,
St Leo’s College
|
Teacher
|
|
1961
|
Kisubi,
Savio’s School
|
Teacher
|
|
1962
|
Kisubi,
Mount St Teresa
|
Teacher
|
|
1963
|
Kisubi,
St Mary’s College
|
Teacher
|
|
1965
|
Jersey
|
Great
Novitiate
|
|
1966
|
Notre-Dame
University, USA
|
Student
|
|
1967
|
Kisubi,
Mount St Teresa
|
Director
of Postulants
|
|
1967
|
Bukuumi,
St Edward’s Secondary School
|
Headmaster
|
|
1969
|
Kisubi,
St Mary’s College
|
Headmaster
|
|
1980
|
Roma,
Casa Generalizia,
|
Student
|
|
1981
|
Kisubi,
Mount St Teresa
|
Assistant
Provincial
|
|
1983
|
Kitovu,
St Henry’s College
|
Superior
|
|
1988
|
Makerere,
|
Headmaster
|
|
1992
|
La
Prairie
|
Student
|
|
1996
|
Kisubi,
St Mary’s College
|
Superior,
Teacher
|
|
2002
|
Kisubi,
|
Retired
|
ANTHONY KYEMWA
Reverend
Brother Anthony Emmanuel Joseph Kyemwa (12 February 1930 - 21 November 2017)
was a senior member of the Catholic Religious institute of the Brothers of
Christian Instruction (popularly known as Brothers of Kisubi). He was the first
African Headmaster of St. Mary’s College, Kisubi from 1969 to 1980. The staff
force he took over staff was 90% expatriate.
His immediate challenge was to uphold the school standards. He left when
the staff force was 100% African. He took over school administration from Brother
David Marcel Denicourt RIP who had been Head teacher from 1967 to 1968. His
administration put an end to the 43-years Era of White Brothers administration
of the school.
Background / Early
life.
Brother
Anthony Kyemwa was born in Fort Portal, a city in the Western region of Uganda
in Tooro Kingdom. His father was Joseph B. Kasule from Ngeye clan (Colobus
monkey), a Court clerk in the British Administration and his mother was Suzanna
Nantume Bujingo from Mbogo clan (Buffalo). Initially, they lived in Central
Uganda (Buganda) before relocating to Fort Portal for official duties. Brother Anthony Kyemwa was the third born of
five children who included Covia Nanfuka, Anna Maria Namyalo, Denis Bamugye and
Bernadette Nabayego.
He
was born and raised in a Catholic family that made him a dedicated Christian.
His inspiration to become a Reverend Brother was from Father Denis Kyemwa who
was a close relative.
Education
He
started primary education at Noah Mawaggali Primary School Busubizi 1939 – 1945. He attended Junior education
at Kisubi Junior (1946-1948) present day St. Savio Junior School. He joined St.
Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) for his secondary education in 1949 up to 1951and
was a member of Lourdel House.
Later,
he joined Makerere University College (1954 -1959) and graduated with a degree
in Fine Art.
He
attained a Master’s degree in School Administration at Notre Dame University,
USA (1966 -1967), USA.
Religious formation
Brother
Kyemwa joined Kisubi Postulate in 1950 - 1951 seeking admission into a
Religious Order and in 1952 he joined Kisubi Novitiate. Two years later, he
started his first profession as a Scholasticate from Mt. St. Theresa
Kisubi. In 1965 he made his second
novitiate at Highland College Jersey in Britain.
In
1980 he joined Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome
for further spiritual studies. A year after he joined the Catholic Institute of
Paris for proficiency in French and a Year of Renewal at Castel Gandolfo in
Rome (1992).
Jubilees
1st
January 1977 - Kisubi Sliver Jubilee
1st
January 2002 - Golden Jubilee at Kisubi
1st
January 2012 - Diamond Jubilee at Kisubi
Working Experience
After
completing his First degree course at Makerere College, Brother Anthony Kyemwa
was posted to St Leo’s College, Kyegobe as a Mathematics and Fine Art teacher
where he taught for one year.
In
1960, he was transferred to St Henry’s College Kitovu (SHACK), Masaka District
in the Central Region of Uganda. He
served for one year. In 1983 he was appointed Head teacher of the same school
upto1988.
In
1961, he was transferred to St. Savio Junior School, Kisubi and later in 1962,
he was posted as a teacher to Kisubi Postulate.
In
1963, he was appointed as the Deputy Head teacher at St Mary’s College Kisubi
which was his former school. In the same school, he served as Biology and a
Fine Art teacher up to 1964. His
original methods of teaching helped the students to opt for the most original
papers from the vast program of Cambridge University hence excelling in
Cambridge Certificate Examinations which were organized for Ordinary and
Advanced levels of learning.
During
his time as the Deputy Head teacher on November 14, 1964 a lorry
with Uganda Government soldiers rammed into St. Mary's College Kisubi
(SMACK) school truck killing 12 students.
The students were coming from a
football match at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku, where they had beaten St. Henry's College Kitovu 2-1. The Brother was not only involved in
comforting the Headmaster Brother Paul Bourget (1963 - 1967), fellow Staff Members, parents, Old
Boys (OBs) and students by then but also went to the mortuary where he
collected on body of the student and took it for burial home in Western Uganda.
Brother Anthony Kyemwa narrated the incident.― During
that time, there was political unrest between the Central Government and
Buganda Government when Kabaka Mutesa II was the President of Uganda. Police
had been stationed at Kibuye along Entebbe Road by the Central Government. And
these (the Police), on seeing people who were jubilating and in a convoy of
cars mistook it to be a politically motivated development. The stationed
policemen informed the army at Entebbe about the developments, and, a force to
crash those who were jubilating was sent leading to the accident, which claimed
the students‘ lives, said Brother Anthony Kyemwa.
In
1967, he was transferred to St. Edward’s Secondary School Bukuumi as the Headmaster.
In
1969 Brother Marcel David Denicourt
who was the Headmaster at St. Mary’s College Kisubi, officially handed over
administrative duties to Brother Kyemwa.
The
time when he was the Headmaster of the school, Uganda faced different
challenges which included the declaration of Economic War by Idi Amin in 1972,
then the invasion of Uganda by Tanzanian forces in 1979. Even then, he maintained
the school standards.
Though
the school was not in a fence, and there was no Parents’ Teachers’ Association
(PTA), the students excelled in national examinations and became top
professionals who were employed worldwide.
Brother Kyemwa’s administration wanted to change the approach to
education at St. Mary’s College, so he sent out teachers to other schools to
collect information in respect of school administration; school programmes;
teachers; school activities and organization. The information got was compiled
and comparisons made with what was being done at St. Mary’s then hence a new
approach leading to the changing of what the expatriates’ approach had been. This
research was used to enhance a new approach to learning – This, he narrated
to William Kituuka (Old Student).
The
Brother ensured freedom of worship at the school and was against divisionism
and tribalism among students in the school.
Brother
Kyemwa was an outstanding African artist and sculptor. His monuments, including
a Statue of The Virgin Mary in in the SMACK quadrangle, triumphal arch at St.
Savio Junior School and the School Eagle effigy in front of the main building
at SMACK were among his most prominent Art Works.
Milton Obote’s
visit to St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) 1969
On
15 March 1969, Brother Anthony Kyemwa hosted Milton Obote RIP who was the President
of Uganda. He was invited by the
Cultural Club of the school. Obote addressed the school community in the
Assembly Hall. The
subject matter was: “The Current Political Trend in Uganda”.
Idi Amin’s visit to
St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK) 1970
In
1970, Brother Anthony Kyemwa hosted Idi Amin Commander and Chief of Defence
Staff (Uganda Armed Forces) at SMACK. Idi Amin visited the school in his capacity then as head of Uganda Army.
He came with his officers for two reasons:
1) To offer condolences for the 12 boys who had lost their lives in a road
accident involving an army lorry and the school truck.
2) To interest the students to join the national army as officer cadets.
Appointments
In
1985 - 1987, he served as an internal examiner for Makerere University and
International technical and construction (ITEK).
In
1988 -1992, he was a Principal of Caltec Academy Makerere.
In
1992-1995, he was the project supervisor for PRODEVA.
In
1995, he was at St John Mary Muzeeyi novitiate as a formator.
In
1999 - 2000, he was at St Mary’s College Kisubi as a Superior. In fact the
provincial superior of Brothers, Peter Kazekulya described him as a “committed
and reliable member of the congregation” in the speech at his burial.
2001-
2008, he was the Provincial Education Secretary. However, in 2004 he was
appointed registrar of Kisubi Brothers University Center.
2008
- 2009, he was at St Teresa postulate, Kisubi staff.
Retirement
In
his final years, Brother Kyemwa served at Mt St Teresa community, Alphonsus Zayera
community and UPISA until his last breath.
During
the Requiem Mass for Brother Kyemwa, the Archbishop of Kampala, Dr. Cyprian
Kizito Lwanga acknowledged with deep appreciation the enormous contribution
that Kyemwa made to the development of SMACK in particular and the country’s
education sector in general. “He was a seasoned teacher and education manager.
His wonderful legacy of good education management will always be remembered,”
Lwanga said.
The Old Boys of St Mary's College
Kisubi (SMACK) made a unanimous decision to immortalize Brother Anthony Kyemwa,
in appreciation of his enormous contribution to the development of the school.
They have named after him the sh3bn A-Level Reading / Classroom / Laboratory
block at the College – Brother Kyemwa Memorial HSC Block.
Lenny Mugwanwa, an alumnus of SMACK, made the statement during the requiem mass
of Brother Kyemwa at St Mary's College Chapel. Delivering the eulogy of the
alumni, Mugwanwa said:
"Our beloved father Brother Kyemwa had unique qualities of education
management. At the time he became the Headmaster, our school was experiencing
enormous challenges. Twelve students had just perished in an accident.
Brother
Anthony Kyemwa was a Consultant Authority in the writing of the current
documented version of the History of St. Mary’s College, Kisubi (1906 – 2006),
more so the evolution of St. Mary’s School in 1906 and other aspects as the
school progressed.
Dr.
Geoffrey Onegi Obel said, “Brother Kyemwa was a kind of role model to us, a
very strong figure, parental and also very nice as long as you did not cross
his way”.
Asked
about what led St. Mary’s College Kisubi to be at the height of glory and fame
it enjoys, as far as academics is concerned, Brother Kyemwa said, “In my
opinion, the aspirations of the students and staff led to the rise of the school.
There was a strong spirit of competitiveness with other schools; that is Kings
College Buddo, Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga, Namilyango College to mention but a
few”.
Brother
Kyemwa’s message to the SMACK community if they are to maintain the excellence
is: “Discipline should be emphasized because it is with discipline that one can
concentrate on one’s work. There should also be a strong spirit among the
students because this unites them in all aspects”. “When I meet former students
of St. Mary’s College Kisubi, they always thank me for having emphasized
discipline”.
Brother
Kyemwa would like to be remembered as one who tried under the circumstances of
the time. He tried to keep the school standards up and never down.
St.
Mary‘s College, was founded to assist parents and students in a common task.
This is the task of seeing to it that each student is provided with the
opportunity to grow into the best possible man for, it is believed, every
student in the school is a potential grown-up who will eventually take up a
honourable place in a community of men, as quoted by Brother Kyemwa.
Brother Kyemwa initially continued with the
expansion of the school inherited from his predecessors to 5 streams initially,
and he accordingly went to expand accommodation. He built some pre-fabricated
classrooms and also improved and enlarged dormitories and toilets. With the
departure of the expatriates during the early 1970‘s, the number of White lay
teachers and White Brothers dwindled and there was need to recruit more lay
African teachers, who soon outnumbered the Brothers on the staff, thus the rush
to put up new as well as expansion of the staff quarters. However, after 1973,
the intake was cut down to a total of 120 students on admission to senior one.
The developments during Brother Kyemwa’s time
included:
As the White Brothers got phased out slowly, there
was a challenge to build staff houses for the non –Brother Teachers, hence the
construction of the staff quarters found along SMACK Road. These were
strategically located at the school land borders. In addition, he expanded,
those houses, which existed from accommodating 2 teachers to four, by adding
two extensions on each structure.
He bought a bus for the school in replacement of the
Lorry, which had been involved in an accident in 1964. This innovation excited
students very much.
A modern Electrically Operated Kitchenwas built to
replace the firewood one.3.More Classrooms were built (the two blocks behind
the Main Administration Block), the Agriculture block, the Bursar‘s block and
the 2nd HSC dormitory (near Mugwanya and Kiwanuka Dormitories).
A Parlour for the students was built (currently it
is used by non-teaching staff).The Basket Ball Court being Opened.
A cement/concrete basketball court at the western
end of the main athletic field was made, it was offered by an American Peace
Corp Teacher‘s family.
The school uniform was re-established consisting of
a white shirt and grey trousers supplied at the school. Sports uniforms were
also supplied according to house colours and badges. Navy blue shorts with
golden lining on either side were added for all students.
House Masters slept in their houses using the
central dormitory cubicles between the two wings of each dormitory. These lived
closer to the members of their houses as a family.
Every Wednesday, sick students would be accompanied
by the school nurse in the school bus to Entebbe Hospital where they would be
treated free of charge.9.Interschool dances were normally held during daytime
to avoid traveling at night due to rampant acts of insecurity during the 1970‘s.
A second water tank was put up.
