St. Leo’s College Kyegobe Resurrected by Dedicated Alumni After Years of Decline

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St. Leo’s College Kyegobe, a once-renowned educational institution in the heart of Fort Portal City, faced a period of academic and reputational decline from the 1980s through the early 2000s. However, a remarkable transformation has taken place over the last eight years, thanks to the unwavering commitment of its dedicated alumni, affectionately known as the “Old Boys.” They have invested approximately Shs800 million to breathe new life into the school.

The school’s decline was marked by a series of challenges, including strikes and academic malpractices that culminated in the cancellation of some of the school’s Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results in 2014. As a result, disillusioned parents began to withdraw their children from the school, and the student enrollment dwindled to a mere 195 in 2019.

St. Leo’s College Kyegobe, founded in 1921 by the White Fathers, has evolved into a government-aided institution under the jurisdiction of the Fort Portal Catholic Diocese.

Under the leadership of Eng Emmex Turyatunga, the Old Boys launched their mission to revive the school in April 2015. Turyatunga shared, “When we decided to come on board as OBs, we found that the school’s enrollment had plummeted from 1,000 to 200 students. Since our intervention, the school has made significant strides in regaining its former academic excellence and enrollment.”

To improve academic performance, the Old Boys initiated a bursary scheme in 2015, sponsoring deserving but underprivileged students. They also undertook extensive renovations of school structures, including dormitories and sports facilities, among other improvements.

Mr. Turyatunga expressed optimism about the future, stating, “In the coming two years, we are expecting the school to have an enrollment of 1,000 students after being ranked as number 51 in the whole country in the 2022 UCE exams.”

The head teacher, Mr. Trophy Atuhairwe, shared the daunting challenges he faced when he joined the school in 2019, including a debt of over Shs200 million. He emphasized that the school’s revival would have been impossible without the relentless efforts of the Old Boys.

“At present, we need additional renovations and the construction of a perimeter wall. Our new strategy is to further enhance our academic standards to attract more students,” said Atuhairwe.

Bishop Robert Muhiirwa of Fort Portal Catholic Diocese extended his gratitude to the Old Boys for their instrumental role in the school’s revival through their sponsorship of students from senior one to senior six. He affirmed the school’s potential for a bright future.

Dr. Richard Mugahi, another dedicated Old Boy, highlighted the importance of modernizing the school’s infrastructure, saying, “We have done our part, and now we request the government to invest in modern infrastructures. Currently, a school with approximately 600 students has only 40 computers, and the digital age necessitates better digital equipment for our students.”

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