A Tribute to Teachers Who Made a Difference;

My lovely mother, Beatrice Kabwa Basaliza worked as a teacher all through her life till ?retirement a few years ago. Its because of her that I treasure the profession of teaching to the dot.If you’ve been a teacher’s child,you certainly know what I’m talking about.Through her tour of duty from Kyebambe Girls,Mpanga SS,Maria Gorretti Katende,Kakungulu Memorial,Mt.St.mary’s Namagunga ,and finally to the Education Service Commission,the teacher in her was all there for us to see and acknowledge.

And as we celebrate Teachers’ Day ?of this mighty country called Uganda,I picked on this time ?to pay tribute to this profession and ?a time to "honor local educators and acknowledge the crucial role they play in making sure every pupil/student receives a quality education."

But in particular, I chose to tilt my plaudits to my former school,St.Henry’s College Kitovu,that celebrated a Century of a bounteous harvest ,July 16th.I know and recognize that there are many teachers in our past who have given their hearts, minds and souls to nurture in us the things that they saw as vital to our education, critical to our success, and important for our future.

With that background , I want to take this time to celebrate and share with you The Magnificent 7 -- teachers from my past who inspired me, and gave freely of their time to this great profession we call teaching. These are seven teachers who were?super, teachers who have earned the right to be called GREAT in this profession that many of us call our life's work.

T is for Trusting

Mrs. Kasozi was our English teacher. She was patient, kind and we?trusted?her. She was the first teacher who ever recognized that one had something special to share with the world, even if then it was only the dimples. Mrs. Kasozi guided us through the “queen’s language” language with ease, patience and always made our classroom feel like a safe place. We will always treasure her kind words, her caring smile, and her encouragement as we went through the adolescent stage as teenagers.

E is for Enthusiastic

Mr. Ddungu JohnBosco was one of a kind. A very open teacher, an old boy of the school, who knew every corner of the school, and wasn’t easy to get away from his grip, through lying about our deeds or whereabouts. He would confidently assure us,”ebyo twabikola dda”.

He was amazingly talented, as he could not only look you in the eye and get you to behave, but he could also get you to sing your heart out! Mr. Ddungu was our school sports teacher and always played the “lead protocol” role, whenever we travelled out of the College to other schools and participate in Sports.

He was?enthusiastic?about all our learning. I will always cherish the way he literally "drummed up" the school support whenever we lined up on the field and got our school to sing with a joyful and cheerful ?noise!

A is for Amazing

Mr. Lwanga Kasozi ?was our Interact Club Patron and also a sports enthusiast during my time, plus an English teacher, who presided over an "open classroom" environment.?He was?amazing?to me in that, no matter the issue or dilemma, from broken arm to broken heart, Mr. Kasozi always ?kept his cool. His kind, caring demeanor and leadership were unparalleled in all my school experience. He was a true mentor especially in my Rotary Journey, and beloved by all. As president and past president of the Rotary Club of Masaka,he was so passionate about strengthening the spirit of Service through Interact and in turn impact in us the heart of serving humanity.

He was particular about the choice of his names, where Kasozi Lwanga was a different person from Lwanga Kasozi.One had to get the order of his names correct, if he were to get any attention from him.

C is for Charisma

Brother Kawuki,is one of ?those people who appeared in your life and -- no matter what they say or do -- everyone loves them? He was the headteacher ,and everything about him was making St.Henry’s the best in the country.

He was brilliant ,a disciplinarian and beloved by many for his firm, fair and consistent manner. He had amazing?charisma?and could keep you engaged for hours as he shared his teaching adventures. His genuine caring for his students, teachers, parents and school community won the hearts of many. Here was a guy,who you would follow without him having to ask.A man whose presence you felt even in absentia.

He left St.Henry’s in 2000 to join Jinja College there after.But many of his students relish the ?support , and mentorship he moved as they became better administrators.

H is for Hopeful

Mr. Bbuka Anthony and Turyagiza Innocent were my high school teachers but more so my football coaches /teachers. We won and shared many things with these two,and as the Football Captain of the school in 2001-2002,they were surely my fatherly figures back then,and yet behaved like brothers.

Theirs was to always push us as footballers to endeavor that we passed our exams albeit the love and time we took to football. That life was more than the football we were playing and so it was.

Mr. Bbuka ?was also in charge of the school choir and the library as well,so ,he moulded me a lot when it came to reading and keeping up with current affairs.

We used to meet much often where we discussed such earthshaking topics such as where to hold our next social(prom )and which girls school should come ?at the next dance. We did have some big thinkers, though, who got into some nasty debates on other topics that were not looked upon too kindly by our principal; topics such as walk-outs or sit-ins to protest the School Administration. When those contentious discussions broke out at the filed , Mr. Bbuka and Turyagiza always kept their cool, calmed us down and were a constant source of?hope. Even when we knew that the walk-out would never fly, they never wavered in their encouragement to us to bring the issue forward no matter what the outcome might be. I will always remember them for their ?patience with us, and for his kind acceptance of all our diverse student opinions.

E is for Extraordinary

Bro.mercelinus Luwaga(RIP)?was our ?college French tutor ,disciplinarian ?and lovely teacher. He ?was an amazing, gifted orator who was unpredictable ,and one wouldn’t know his next move.

He ?passed away in 2009, but left a legacy of?extraordinary?brilliance. I will always be in awe of his ?teaching and passionate spirit, and grateful for his ?firm belief in student discipline ,and abilities especially the French students cohort. Feared and yet loved, here was a man who was out there to put the students in line.

R is for Resonate

Benon Twinomujuni is the one here.He was the deputy headteacher and his was to make sure students enjoy their stay in the school.He was the go-between with the parents and almost knew each and every students’ parent by name.

His manner of teaching?and his ?message of hope always?resonated?with his students. As an administrator , he ?was 100% convinced that, through the power of education, people could rise above poverty and achieve their dreams. I will be forever grateful to him for his steadfast commitment to living a life filled with seeking his ?passion and teaching us ?to do the same.

In his cautionary remarks at the assembly, he would always say, "the pen will tell” ,signifying that the results at the end of the day shall tell us whether we?were studying or went to St. Henry’s to harvest grasshoppers.

I'd love to hear from you! Now that I've shared my Magnificent 7. Share with us, a teacher who has made a difference in your life as an educator.

[email protected]

Cohort leader KIKAME BOYS(SHACK (97-02)

Added reporting in consultation with my Kitovu classmates.