Gayaza High School

Gayaza High School is an all-girls boarding school covering grades 8 -13 in Uganda. It is the oldest girls' school in the country.^[1]

Location

The school is located in the town of Gayaza, in Wakiso District, approximately 20 kilometres (12 mi) northeast of Kampala, Uganda's capital and largest city.^[2] The school grounds cover an area of 140 acres (57 ha) on a hilltop, running roughly south to north. It is bounded on the north by Makerere University Farm at Kabanyolo and on the west by smallholdings and the Gayaza - Namulonge road. The area between the school farm and the road from Kampala to Kalagi, Mukono, Uganda comprises a swamp and more smallholdings. Gayaza High School lies immediately north of a small settlement known as Gayaza Market. At this point, the main road from Kampala forks; one road leading to Kalagi in Mukono District and the other to Namulonge Agricultural and Animal Research Institute (NAARI), and on to Zirobwe. The lane between them leading up to the school, past the primary day schools and the parish church, is a cul de sac, which accounts for the school's relative security in times of trouble. The coordinates of the school are:0°27'36.0"N, 32°36'39.0"E (Latitude:0.460000; Longitude:32.610833).^[3]

History

Christian missionaries belonging to the Church Missionary Society of England founded Gayaza High School in January 1905 with four students. By July 1905, the number of students had grown to 43. The land was donated to the Church by Kabaka Daudi Cwa II.

The purpose was to train girls, especially the daughters of chiefs of the Kingdom of Buganda, in those skills that would make them better wives. This was the only basis of security approval from the traditional and traditionalist leaders of that time. The founders however had a different motive: to educate girls based on a strong Christian foundation. They realized that the best way of entrenching Christianity was by having Christian mothers under whom children spent all their formative years.

In the beginning, the curriculum included agriculture, handiwork, child-care and needlework, as well as scripture, reading, writing, arithmetic and geography. Academic excellence and social excellence are traditions in Gayaza High School. It is therefore not surprising that the school is one of the most sought after high schools in Uganda. In 2009, Gayaza High School was selected as the 68th best high school in Africa.^[4]

Originally, any girl, as long as she was a daughter of a chief in the Buganda Kingdom, was admitted to Gayaza. Later, even those from rich families were able to enter the school. Eventually the system changed further so that one had to pass both their oral and written examinations to get into Gayaza. Today this is still the practice.

Student residences

The student dormitories are named after prominent Ugandans or after past administrators at the school:

The last house is named after the late Rhoda Nsibambi, former wife to the immediate past Prime Minister of Uganda, Apollo Nsibambi. She was an alumnus. Ham & Apollo House is named after Ham Mukasa and Apollo Kaggwa. Kennedy House was named after John F. Kennedy.

Hutchinson House

Its located in the middle of the school and was first built by Lena and Joseph Hutchison . Its is the second largest house after Rhoda Nsibambi. It has been good in sports for the past few years.

Notable alumni

• Princess Elizabeth Bagaaya - Princess, Lawyer, Diplomat, Politician, Model
• Julia Sebutinde - Presiding Judge, Courtroom II, International Criminal Court, the The Hague, Netherlands
• Lady Damali Catherine Nnakawombe Kisosonkole (RIP), wife of Kabaka Sir Edward Muteesa II of Buganda. She was an activist for human rights under the British colonial rule.^[5]
• Dr. Margaret Blick Kigozi - Physician, businesswoman, sportswoman and farmer. Currently a management consultant at UNIDO. Formerly, Executive Director of Uganda Investment Authority.
• Allen Kagina - Administrator and businesswoman. Commissioner-General of Uganda Revenue Authority from 2004 until 2014.

See also

• Education in Uganda

References

External links

• Overview of Gayaza High School In June 2012

Wakiso District Capital: Wakiso Counties and sub-counties Kyaddondo County Busiro County Parishes Busukuma Entebbe Gombe Kakiri Katabi Kasanje Kira Makindye Masuliita Nabweru Namayumba Nangabo Nansana Nsangi Ssisa Wakiso Towns and villages Abayita Ababiri Banda Buddo Bulindo Buloba Entebbe Kira Bweyogerere Kireka Kirinnya Namugongo Kasangati Katalemwa Kigulu Kyaliwajjala Gayaza Gombe Nakweero Matugga Wakiso Kakiri Nansana Kajjansi Sentema Lubowa Lweeza Namulonge Naalya Najjera Namanve Nsangi Nsasa Kyengera Nabbingo Kisubi Kitikifumba Kijabijo Kitukutwe Wampeewo Magere Economy Akright Projects Limited Bank of Africa Barclays Bank Centenary Bank Crane Bank Ecobank Equity Bank Fina Bank Orient Bank PostBank Uganda Uganda Finance Trust Limited Stanbic Bank Kingstone Enterprises Limited Ugachick Limited Kampala Industrial and Business Park Chrysanthemums Uganda Limited Roofings Limited Uganda Clays Limited Uganda Civil Aviation Authority Notable landmarks Old Entebbe Town Entebbe Botanical Gardens State House Entebbe Entebbe-Kampala Highway Lake Victoria Lubigi Wetland Kasubi Tombs Mandela National Stadium Imperial Botanical Beach Hotel Imperial Resort Beach Hotel Imperial Golf View Hotel Basilica of the Uganda Martyrs Banda Kabaka's Palace Kireka Kabaka's Palace Bulago Resort Island Ngamba Island Lake Victoria Serena Resort Transport Entebbe International Airport Kajjansi Airport Namulonge Airport Kampala-Jinja Highway Gayaza-Ziroobwe Road Matugga-Kapeeka Road Kampala Northern Bypass Highway Entebbe-Kampala Highway Education Uganda Martyrs High School Namugongo Gayaza High School King's College Budo St. Mary's College Kisubi Trinity College Nabbingo African Bible College (Uganda) Nkumba University Notable people Arthur Sserwanga Gilbert Bukenya Nelson Sewankambo Louis Kasekende Julia Sebutinde Isreal Kibirige Ssebunya Samson Kisekka