Kabalega Secondary School Old Boys Association (KASSOBA) has commissioned a new Red Gate worth more than UGX100 million and a UGX20 million sculpture of Omukama Kabalega Chwa II, marking a significant investment in the revitalisation of the historic institution.
The commissioning ceremony took place on Saturday, 10 October 2026, following the association’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and retreat at the school.
The Red Gate and monument were commissioned by Buruli County MP Hon. Aled Ronald Akugizibwe, alongside Rt. Rev. Joshua Kugonza Amooti.
Named after the celebrated Bunyoro king, Omukama Kabalega Chwa II, who reigned in the late 19th century and lived from 18 June 1853 to 6 April 1923, the school was established in 1959.
However, ageing infrastructure, declining enrolment and staffing shortages continue to undermine its progress.
“I’m an old boy of this school from 2001 to 2004, and the Member of Parliament representing the people of Buruli Constituency. I also sit on the Committee on Education and Sports.
I want to appreciate the Old Boys of Kabalega Secondary School for supporting the school with large sums of money that have made it possible to construct the red gate.
And I want to pray that whoever enters this gate and enters in our mighty school comes back when he’s going to add a lot of value to this country,” Akugizibwe said.
He added: “This is not the first project we have worked on in this school. We renovated the library, we put in a new water tank, we have always supported the school in terms of sports and other things.”
On the monument, he said: “Kabalega was the strongest king known in the history of this world.
I want to pray that today as we commission his monument here at Kabalega Secondary School, whoever comes and studies from this school must be as courageous, as strong, and a very serious person and be lived to be remembered like our king Kabalega.”
Akugizibwe also revealed that the school, whose enrolment has fallen from more than 2,000 students to 583, is among the first 20 institutions earmarked for government support under the U-Learn Project.
The initiative will rehabilitate traditional schools, replace asbestos roofing and construct new facilities, with work expected to begin around January or February 2027.
KASSOBA National Chairperson Ibrahim Magemeso, an alumnus from 1998 to 2001, highlighted the scale of the challenges.
“This school was built in 1959, 1960. So most of the buildings you see here are buildings of 1959, 1960.
You have seen Bikunya House was burnt like 10 years ago, more than 10 years ago and it has never been reconstructed.
“Low enrolment is still a big challenge. Because of the state of the infrastructure, it is not motivating enough for parents to bring their children here.
“The second challenge is the staffing. The school is operating at less than 40% of staffing levels from government.
Most of the teachers are privately paid which demotivate many. Some teachers are retired and others transferred but never replaced.”
Established in 1982, KASSOBA has supported scholarships, dormitory renovations, digital learning, water projects, sports and the school brass band.
Its initiatives also include the KASSOBA SACCO, launched in April 2021 to strengthen members’ financial wellbeing.
