Canon John Mulindabigwi has made a significant impact on the community in Kamwenge District, Uganda, by creating an affordable, high-quality educational opportunity for local students. His work through the establishment of Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School has not only provided education but also equipped students with essential vocational skills, transforming the community in southwestern Uganda.
Establishment of Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School
In 2007, Canon Mulindabigwi founded Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School in Rwengoro Ward, Rukunyu Town Council, Kamwenge District, with the aim of providing affordable education to local students. The school opened with just three classrooms and seven students, growing to 24 students by the end of that year. Mulindabigwi was motivated by the need to support returnees from Tanzania and Rwanda who had been resettled in the area, offering them educational opportunities to help integrate them into Ugandan society.
“I could not come up with a relief program but chose education because it could stay for long with a permanent impact,” Mulindabigwi explained.
Providing Affordable Education
The school’s tuition fees are remarkably affordable, ranging from $100 to $130, making it accessible to families who otherwise could not afford the cost of education, especially in urban areas. This low-cost model has been instrumental in addressing the education gap in rural Kamwenge, where many families struggle with transportation costs to distant schools.
Nyangoma Grace Ariho, a mathematics teaching assistant at Bishop Stuart University in Mbarara, shared her experience: “We would walk to school since it was in our community, and my parents could not afford daily transport. Being a Christian school helped install good morals in us.”
Ariho emphasized the broader impact the school has had on the community: “I could not imagine that someone from such a village could have such an impact. Surprisingly, most of my old classmates are doing well now.”
Vocational Training for Practical Skills
In addition to formal education, Kamwenge Secondary and Vocational School places a strong emphasis on vocational training. Canon Mulindabigwi believes in teaching practical skills such as agriculture, catering, welding, carpentry, and construction to ensure that students are well-prepared for life beyond the classroom.
“We live upcountry, and we need to teach people to work physically so that they can earn. It’s time to teach them how to live a practical life,” Mulindabigwi explained.
The school also uses its compound for hands-on learning, growing vegetables to teach students the value of utilizing space productively.
Success Stories: Students Empowered Through Education
The vocational training programs at the school have provided numerous success stories. Christopher Mwesigwa, a 13-year-old primary six student, was introduced to carpentry and joinery during the COVID-19 lockdown. Now, he creates furniture and earns money to support himself. Similarly, Ramech Tumwebaze, a senior three student, has learned carpentry skills that help pay his school fees.
Alfred Rukumbagaza, an instructor at the school, emphasized the importance of teaching students responsibility: “We try hard to make these boys responsible men who can do something for themselves. During the holidays, we teach them, and now they even make furniture for the school to cater for their fees.”
Positive Community Impact
The school has not only improved access to education but has also brought economic benefits to the community. Ronald Akampa, a local parent, expressed how the school has eased financial burdens. “I expect all my children to study from nursery, primary, and even secondary levels in the same place, which means no transport costs,” he said. He also noted that the school’s community-based programs have created a market for local goods, boosting local income.
Call for More Support for Technical Education
Canon Mulindabigwi is passionate about expanding technical and vocational education and calls on the government and other stakeholders to support such initiatives. He believes that combining formal education with practical skills can provide lasting solutions to poverty and unemployment in rural Uganda.
“We need more investment in technical and practical teaching to ensure that students are equipped for the challenges of the real world,” Mulindabigwi urged.
Through his visionary approach to education, Canon Mulindabigwi has created a sustainable model that not only empowers students with knowledge but also equips them with skills that can transform their lives and the community as a whole.
