Derrick Masete is a Senior Six student at Kakira Secondary School offering Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) and his dream is to pursue Medical Radiography at university. The 19-year-old recently excelled in the Virtue Students Anti-Corruption Challenge emerging the best in Eastern Uganda and second best overall in the interview category that featured interviews with the high and mighty of the country.
“The interview focused on accountability and transparency with emphasis on education, health, climate change and infrastructure development,” Masete said.
Masete is not the only student flying the flag of Kakira Secondary School high in the country and beyond. There are scores of others like Ashiraf Kasadha, an aspiring veterinary doctor, who is so passionate about animals. Like Masete, Kasadha is in Senior Six offering Biology, Chemistry and Agriculture (BCA). The 20-year-old oozes with confidence while talking about the agriculture project that has come to define him at the 56-year-old school.
“Every farmer ought to pick interest in rabbit keeping, especially the albino rabbits because they are rarely affected by diseases and they are very rewarding with each one going for at least Shs15,000,” says Kasadha about his passion that has ultimately become his vocation.
Indeed, Kasadha’s grasp of his intended vocation is testimony of the science that runs in his veins and a telling example of the great work the school management is doing to promote sciences as enumerated by the school’s headmaster Patrick Bamwiidhiwa.
“The company has been so generous to us and funds all the school activities. We have over 70 computers that are fully networked, a school garden and students trips are fully catered for,” says Mr Bamwiidhiwa.
He says they have not found any challenge with implementing the new lower secondary school curriculum, thanks to the company’s generosity.
“Majority of our students are pursuing science disciplines and are excelling. Last year, we obtained 37 first grades at O’level and we ought to perform even better this year,” Mr Bamwiidhiwa said, adding that they also take keen interest is sport and other co-curricular activities.
“We have won so many trophies in debate, public speaking, patriotism and music, among other disciplines,” Bamwiidhiwa said as he pointed to a horde of trophies the school has won in the recent past.
Kakira SS’ prowess in science was exhibited in the recently concluded agriculture show where the school’s exhibition booth left guests marveling at what they saw.
“We exhibited several projects, including mosquito replant candles made from lemon grass, brickettes made from trash and we also did backyard farming in sacks and tins,” said Claire Tarapkwe, an agriculture teacher and senior woman teacher at the school.
Ms Tarapkwe also said the students also exhibited moringa jerry for skin care, fertilizers and pesticides from rabbit wastes as well as adding value to some fruits by making mango, pineapple and banana juice.
Kakira SS currently boasts a population of 630 students with 459 at O’level and 171 at A’ level. It is a purely day school established in 1968 with the purpose of helping children of company workers access the much-neeed education.
