OG opinion poll.
Brig. Gen. Rebecca Mpagi (1969 to 1972)
She was in the girls’ school for her O’level. The head teacher during her time was Ms. Allan and later on Sister Nakazzi. One of her highlights in the school was the birthday party of Ms Allan’s pet dog. She liked her dog so much and kept it in school. They all celebrated the birthday of the dog and cut cakes. (Courtesy: The Gazelle 2022)
Rt. Hon. Rukia Nakadama
She is the woman member of parliament for Mayuge District and the 3rd Deputy prime minister and minister without portfolio for the Republic of Uganda. She studied in Nabisunsa from Nabisunsa in 1983.
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Mrs. Aisha Buruku
What was the school like?
The school was good and we then had Mrs Aisha Buruku who we all looked up to because she was ever smart and had a high command of the English language. I remember the girls then were really hardworking. We were always in class for morning preps by 7:00 a.m. and we extended our preps with what we called winter. Our teachers always wanted results to maintain the standard of the school. (Courtesy: Gazelle)
Hon. Ruth Nankabira(1981 to 1986)
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Ms Buruku
Is Nabisunsa responsible for your career?
Yes, I am what I am because of Nabisunsa Girls’ School. I was Blue East House prefect and later Head girl of Nabisunsa Girls’ from 1985 to 1986. When we were student leaders of Nabisunsa Girls’ School we were given the opportunity to be part of the administration. This is when leadership potential is quizzed and I passed the test. I remember the time when i served as Head girl, my goodness I was a small headmistress. Therefore I checked on the discipline, the dress code and time keeping of the students. I was the advocate for students’ welfare and surely this has contributed to what I am and what I was for the past years, a dignified national leader,caring wife and loving mother.
Hon. Dr Ruth Jane Acen.(1981 to 1986)
She is currently the minister of health in Uganda and we got one of her speeches from the 2014 gazelle.
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Ms Buruku
What was the school like during your time?
School was very interesting. Our head teacher encouraged us to read so as to excel and we used to read from the library because A levels didn’t have classrooms. I remember I was speech prefect and I would take those guilty of vernacular speeking to the school farm to read. I was in science class and I studied with Hon. Ruth Nankabira.
Hajjat Rehemah Ndagire Mulumba (1987 to 1990)
Hajjat Rehemah Ndagire studied in Nabisunsa for her O level and she is currently the supervisor of Schools in KCCA, Kawempe Division. We were able to have a phone call interview with her through the help of her daughter who is currently in Nabisunsa F2.
The interview goes as follows:
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Hajj Swaib Mbaziira
What was the school like during your stay in Nabisunsa?
The school was really good. The behaviour of the students was on point and cases of indiscipline were rarely present and if they were there very few were found entangled in the crime. F2s would dress in a pink uniform and F4s would wear blue. There were no after class uniforms and we could wear anything as long as it wasn’t indecent. We used to do agriculture and the school had a farm where we would dig. General cleaning was done every Sunday.
During my stay, the school would allow A levels to keep their hair. We would have a day out every end of the year since there were less cases of indiscipline and we were allowed to visit schools like Namilyango College. At that time, social for O and A level was still permitted and in our F.4 we went to St. Mary’s College Kisubi (SMACK).
Criticism
No one is 100% perfect. We all have flaws that’s how God created us. What didn’t you like about Hajj Swaib Mbaziira?
Hmm… I didn’t notice that much of faults in him. If I am to criticize him all I can say is that it wasn’t proper at all to have a male to lead a girls’ secondary school. But above all he liked his students very much that students started calling him daddy. Whenever he would come for assembly students would definitely express their excitement.
Fun Fact: Mr. Mbaziira used to forget small crimes e.g. whenever he would find you late for prep he would say: ‘’Go to my office, I am going to suspend you” and when he finds you in his office he would send you away asking why you aren’t in class.
What do you think can be done to improve the school?
The school is doing okay but there is too much congestion in the dormitories currently because they were made for a smaller number of children. Maybe there could be construction of the new dormitories so as to reduce on the congestion.
Oyera Caroline (1988 to 1993)
We were able to interview her delegated by our unpaid journalist, as she calls herself, after church. Her interview goes as follows:
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Hajj Swaib Mbaziira.
What was the school like during your stay?
The school was great and the head teacher focused mainly on academics and less on co-curricular activity. We would go for farm work and if one doesn’t want then they would have to go for sports instead.
Criticism
No one is 100% perfect. We all have flaws that’s how God created us. What didn’t you like about Hajj Swaib Mbaziira?
Mr Mbaziira was a great man but he had poor English (‘mbogo’) for a head teacher but above all he was very funny and he used to implement punishments e.g. cutting off hair with a razorblade till a resolution for no hair was made.
Miss Nambasa Nusurah (1999 to 2002)
Miss Nambasa Nusurah was in Nabisunsa O level all the four years and is currently the senior woman teacher of the school.
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Hajjat Aisha
What was the school like during your stay?
The school was great. The ladies were very respectful to both the teachers and fellow students. There were no prep teachers to chase the ladies around instead the ladies would report to prep early and were quiet. There was no business of staring. Nabisunsa girls were bold and assertive at the same time respectful towards everyone. They would walk with their heads up high showing confidence. The ladies believed in themselves and were very competitive especially when it came to co-curricular activities. Teachers had time with students where they could talk to them.
Criticism
No one is 100% perfect. We all have flaws that’s how God created us. What didn’t you like about Hajjat Aisha Lubega?
When we are young, we hate it when there is too much strictness in any society. The same applied to me. I didn’t like the fact that Hajjat Aisha was too strict but after growing up, I realised the need because once you live in a life without strictness then life is going to be a mess.
What do you think can be done to improve the school?
We need teamwork. Just like how it was where the head girl would work with the prefects who would work with the teachers, administration and students to deliver services. In fact there was no council body only a prefect’s body with teamwork.
Amy Itogot (2008 to 2009)
She studied in Nabisunsa in her A level. She is currently a lawyer at legal mark advocates. We were able to interview her on a phone
Who was the head teacher during your time?
Hajjat Aisha Lubega
How was your stay here?
I love it and Hajjat Aisha’s reign. I found Nabisunsa as a family and less of a school. Hajjat Aisha used to carry out mentoring sessions where she would call us to her home most Saturdays after jogging class by class. She used to talk about opportunities, life and support. She was interested in their future after school instead of just our grades. She would give them some books to guide them. She would connect students who had big dreams to prominent experienced people who could guide and give us hacks on how to achieve their dreams. I could easily relate with the headmistress. I found her as a mother.
What were your most memorable moments in Nabisunsa?
On Hajjat Aisha’s birthday, a grand celebration with artists, talent shows and pageants would be held.
What was your most exciting moment in Nabisunsa?
On CHOGM in 2007 we dressed up positively imitating the British monarchy i.e. the queen, the prime minister etc. as a way of welcoming them.
Compiled by Nagginda Maisoon and Karungi Daniella.