THE PROFILE OF THE LATE J. C. KIWANUKA

The late John Chrysosom Kiwanuka’s Role in Getting H S C status in Uganda

The Late J C Kiwanuka said that his going to Britain – Nottingham University for a degree course and having been at Makerere College was an eye opener.  They had been told that Cambridge School Certificate was useless (hence the Makerere Admission Examinations), and when he got to Britain, he found that Cambridge School Certificate was the door to the University.

Back to Uganda and at St. Mary’s College Kisubi, he wanted to kick the door open for more admissions at Makerere; this is so as starting Higher School Certificate (HSC) was on his mind.  He talked the matter over with the Late Brother Louis Chounard and Brother Oscar Rogers both former headmasters of the College.  They were very keen on the idea.   While President of St. Mary’s Old Boy’s Association; the Executive Committee of the Association made an appointment with the Late Governor Andrew Cohen to discuss the matter. The Governor met them, they discussed the matter and on the occasion of St. Mary’s Celebration of the 50th Anniversary; Sir Andrew Cohen broke the news that he had allowed the school to start Higher School Certificate (HSC), this was on  August 19, 1956; (This is 34 years after Makerere College opened doors for training diploma students, not University degree holders!). As Minister of Education in DP Government   As a Minister of Education in the short lived Democratic Party Government (1961), Mr Kiwanuka says that he had the advantage of having been President of Uganda Teachers’ Association (UTA) hence knew many problems that existed in the profession, and following the Lawrence Commission Report with some adjustment, their Government acted on: Improving teachers’ salaries and conditions of service; They enacted the teachers’ Pension Scheme for all teachers; Equalised salaries of male and female teachers of the same grade, lay or religious; Awarded 300 scholarships to suitable candidates in all walks of life including tailors, shoe makers, etc Started Higher School Certificate in Girls’ Schools for example Gayaza High School ; St. Mary’s Namagunga and Trinity College Nabingo ; Some schools were given initial Government Grants, for example Bishop SSS Mukono; Kibuli SSS; Christ the King Girls’ School Kalisizo; Mary Hill Girls’ School; Lubiri SSS; and Kiira College Busoga built by the Kyabazinga; They enacted the Board of Governor’s Rules for senior secondary schools and Teachers’ Colleges. The teachers’ conditions of service were enacted.   About Mr. J. C. Kiwanuka                                             i.    Born on 27th July 1919 at Kasaala in Luweero                                           ii.    Cambridge School Certificate 1937 – 1940 at St. Mary’s College Kisubi.                                          iii.    Makerere College 1941 – 1943 got a Diploma in Education (Teaching).                                          iv.    Nandere Primary School – 1944 – 1945                                            v.    Lubaga Junior Secondary School – 1946 – 1947                                          vi.    Nottingham University 1948 – June 1951 got a B.Sc degree.                                         vii.    St. Mary’s College Kisubi (October 1951 – 2001) a teacher.                                       viii.    Minister of Education in DP Government 1961.                                          ix.    President of Uganda Teachers’ Association (UTA)                                            x.    President of St. Mary’s Old Boy’s Association                                          xi.    Has been on School Boards which include: 1..    Trinity College Nabingo – more than 20 years.. 2..    St. Joseph Technical Institute – more than 20 years. 3.     Savio & Kabojja Junior Schools – more than 20 years. 4.     St. Henry’s Girls’ SSS Buyege 4 years. 5.     Uganda Martyrs High School Lubaga – 4 years.. 6...     St. Andrews SSS Kasaala since it started up to 2007. 7.     St.... Joseph’s Nsambya Girls SSS – 3 years.

The residence of the Late J. C. Kiwanuka

Work done by William Kituuka Kiwanuka