By Mariam Nanyanzi
The Buganda Kingdom has commended the Brothers of Christian Instruction for their contribution to Uganda’s education and religious formation during a century of service.
The Brothers of Christian Instruction are marking 100 years since they began their work in Uganda, during which they established schools and other institutions that have educated generations of Ugandan children.
At the centenary celebration, Buganda’s Katikkiro, Charles Peter Mayiga, represented the Kingdom and reflected on his experience as a former student of the Brothers’ schools.
Mayiga said the education he received at the institutions helped shape his approach to leadership and continues to guide him in his service to the Kabaka and the people of Buganda.
“The education I received from these schools helped to prepare me for leadership, and those lessons continue to guide me today as I serve His Majesty the Kabaka and the people of Buganda,” Mayiga said.
The celebration included a Holy Mass celebrated by the Archbishop of Kampala, Paul Ssemogerere, who commended the Brothers for combining education with Christian and moral formation.
“The Brothers of Christian Instruction have not merely built schools. They have laid a strong foundation for producing people who are useful to this country, including doctors, teachers, leaders and lawyers,” Ssemogerere said.
Mayiga also emphasised the broader role of education in shaping individuals and society, while cautioning against separating academic knowledge from faith and good moral values.
“Education enables us to understand the world around us. It gives us eyes and hands with which we can see and achieve things that we would not have been able to discover without education,” he said.
“Education without faith and without values of humanity is like a dog that does not recognise its master,” Mayiga added.
He thanked the Brothers for equipping Ugandan children with knowledge while also nurturing their character and promoting values such as integrity and honesty.
“We appreciate the Brothers for educating the children of this country in different fields of knowledge while, at the same time, caring about their character and teaching them the importance of faithfulness, integrity and honesty,” Mayiga said.
He said the Brothers’ century of service had laid an important foundation for Uganda’s development.
“One hundred years of the Brothers of Christian Instruction teaching here in Uganda has laid a great foundation for our country,” he said.
Vice President Jessica Alupo, who delivered a message on behalf of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, also commended the Brothers for their contribution to national development.
“A nation without morals cannot develop. The Brothers of Christian Instruction have done tremendous work in instilling values in the children of this country and preparing them to become useful members of society,” Alupo said.
She urged the Brothers to continue supporting Government efforts to improve the livelihoods of Ugandans, including programmes aimed at fighting poverty.
“We encourage the Brothers to support the Government’s efforts to fight poverty through programmes such as the Parish Development Model and to encourage people to engage in the production of crops for the market,” she said.
The Brothers of Christian Instruction founded several prominent educational institutions, including St. Mary’s College Kisubi, St. Henry’s College Kitovu, Caltec Academy Makerere, St. Savio Junior School Kisubi and the University of Kisubi, among others.
Their centenary marks 100 years of contribution to Uganda’s education sector, Christian formation and national development.