REVEREND BROTHER ANTHONY EMMANUEL JOSEPH KYEMWA

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.