A Vernacular Elementary School was founded at Kihanga by the Church Missionary Society (CMS) in 1932. The school was established as part of a new Native Anglican Church that was planted at Kihanga by Andereya Tibereeba Nduruma wa Katooka Rutwigi, a Mukiga Christian Missionary worker from Kasheregyenyi, Ndorwa, who rose from a headman with the Rwanda Inland Mission to become an archdeacon of the Church.
The school’s first headteacher was Kezekiah Kasiisiri (1932-1933), who was succeeded by Adonia Ndarubweine (1934-38) and Yakobo Rwamayaga (1939-1940). It had become Kihanga Boy’s School by the end of the 1940s. Its headteachers in the 1940s were Burimpakari (1941), Katungwensi (1942-1943), Lazaaro Katakura (1944-1947), and Majoro (1948-1950).
By the beginning of the 1950s, Kihanga Boys’ School had become one of the outstanding centres of primary education in the Uganda Protectorate. Its growth and development continued under the leadership of Lazaaro Katakura (1951-1953), Ntawuruhunga (1954-1955), and Festo Rubahimbya (1956-1958). It was under Rubahimbya that a Junior Secondary School was added to Kihanga in 1957.
He was succeeded in 1959 by Ishmael Bamwangiraki (for the primary school section) and Fred Rwatsika (for the secondary school section.) The two continued in the positions until the end of 1963, when they were succeeded by John W. Kaakabaare (1964-1965), and James B. Rucecerwa (1966-1967.)
With the nationwide abolition of junior secondary school at the end of 1966, Kihanga Boys’, and Kihanga Girls’ Schools were converted to seven years of study before entry into senior secondary school (high school.) The Boys’ School was moved to its current location at the beginning of 1967. The Girls’ School had already been moved from its original location adjacent to the current Senior Secondary School to its current address just lower down the hill.
Henceforth the Boys’ School was led by Ishmael Bamwangiraki (1968-1970), Stephen Katamunanwire (1971-1973), Enoch Kivebulaya for one month in 1974, Jackson Ndyanimanya (1974-1981), Kajura E. Kihuumuro (1981), Thaddeus Rwomushana (1982-1984), Geoffrey Majoro for two weeks in 1984, William T. Ndyaba (1984-1988), Stuart Byamukama (1989-2000), James Muhonge (2001-2010), Willy Twebaze (2011-2012), Eric Zikanga (2012-2013), Tuhimbise Christine Ruth Tindyebwa (2014-2016, Musinguzi Enoth Lubega (2017), James Biryahwaho (2018-2019), and Kapere Samuel Niwagaba (2020 – present.)
The names and years of service of the early headteachers of Kihanga Girls’ Primary School, which started in 1936, are not available now. We know those who have led the Girls’ Primary School since 1962. The were John Turyagyenda (1962-1968), Francis Kasigazi (Jan – May 1964), J. Bakara (June – December 1964), Elijah Basobokwe (1965-1968), Francis Kasigazi )1969-1975), Amos Orikurungi (1976-1981), Bernard Begyendeho (1982-1984), K. W. Musorini (1985-1987), Benon Kabahena (1988-1989), C. B. Nyongore (1990-1994), Loy Tibemanya (1995-1996), Jane Maganyiro (1997-2000), J. Ngabirano Zereeta (2001-2003), Bernard Begyendeho (2004-2006), Alice Kakwavu (2007-2021), and Ambrose Ebyampeire (2022 – present.)
Kihanga Senior Secondary School was established at its current location as a private, non-government funded school under the aegis of the Church of Uganda on March 1, 1967. Its first headmaster was Stanley Ssiga (1967-1971), followed by Byaruhanga Mulera (1972), and Warren Ruhakana, William Tetta Ndyaba, and Gregory Tegyereza, all three serving very brief stints in 1973.
Stable leadership followed with the appointment of Rev. E. K. Bashaija (1973-1977), Elinadab Kihuumuro (1977-1980), Gersome Mbabazi (1981-1982), and John Warren Kaakabaare (1983-1986). After a brief stint by Mulasanyi in 1986, stable leadership resumed with the appointment of Warren Ruhakana (1987-1990), George Barintuma (1991-1993), and Stanley Mashemere (1993-1994). Short term leadership recurred under Chance Musinguzi (1994), Israel K. Mugisha (1995), and H.G Bindeeba (1995-1996).
The school has enjoyed more stable leadership since the appointment of Israel K. Mugisha (1997-2001), Jackson Mugumirwa (2002-2008), Rev. Wilson Byarugaba (2009-2012), and Onesmus Rukundo Rurihoona (2012-present.) Whereas the strength of a school is the sum of its students, teachers, parents, and access to scholastic resources, the headteacher is the single most important driver of success. Kihanga Boys’ School, Kihanga Girls’ Primary School, and Kihanga Senior Secondary School have had very many good leaders that have steered them through the challenges that Uganda has faced, especially in the difficult years after 1971.
Muniini K. Mulera
OB, Kihanga Boys’ School (1959-1963)
