Besides constructing schools, we also fund teacher salaries, provide food for the children, supply books, pens, and other basic resources. A child can be fed breakfast and lunch for $10 per month. Meals consist of beans, maize flour, sorghum flour, millet flour, vegetables, salt and milk. Firewood is another necessity since it is the source of fuel. School fees average $25 per month including meals, teacher salaries, uniforms and fees.

Our Lady Mother of the Church

Students stand outside their classrooms.

Our Lady Mother of The Church

Students enjoying their lunch in the classroom.

Nyamwegabira Parish

Father Justus is the pastor of Nyamwegabira Parish, located in the Kanungu District of South Western Uganda. Fr. Justus is in charge of 2 other priests at the parish. These 3 priests minister to the approximately 27,000 Catholics within the parish boundary. The main church is named Mary Mother of The Church, and is located in the town of Kihihi. There are 27 outstations, or village churches, only 15 of which are secure enough to contain the consecrated Eucharists. Due to difficult travel between the remote villages, its not possible for three priests to visit each church for Sunday Mass. The parish assigns trained Catechists to minister to each oustation. The outsations with the Eucharist require the Catechist to live on the property in order to protect the Eucharist. Catechists lead liturgy of the word (for all outstations) and liturgy of the Eucharist (only at outstations with the Eucharist). Throughout the year, the priests visit the outstations, and they make sure to visit all outstations during Advent and Lent to hear confessions and say Mass in the rural communities.

There are 14 primary schools and 4 secondary schools currently operating in Nyamwegabira Parish. The Kabale Education Fund has funded projects on several of these schools including constructing dorms and classrooms, installing latrines, providing food to students, and other such projects.

St. John's Nursery School

Students stand in front of St. John's Nursery School in the Karubanda Ward, Nyakakika Village near the town of Kabale, Uganda.

St. John's Nursery School

Exterior of the four classroom school in Karubanda Ward, Nyakakika Village near the town of Kabale, Uganda.

St. John's Nursery School Latrine

Karubanda Ward, Nyakakika Village near the town of Kabale, Uganda.

St. John's Nursery School

Faculty, Students, and their parents attending Mass.

St. John's Nursery School

Students, and their parents attending Mass.

St. John's Nursery School

Students enjoy the day's entertainment.

St. John's Nursery School

Moment of Joy - Dr. Kamara leads as Students and Faculty participate.

St. John's Nursery School

Students, Faculty, and Parents attend a graduation ceremony at the school.

St. John's Nursery School

Students, Faculty, and Parents attend a graduation ceremony at the school.

St. John's Nursery School

Some of the Faculty of the Nursery School.

St. John's nursery school

Constructed in 2010. Serves Around 250 children, girls & boys

Nursery classes Baby, Middle & Top Levels (Grades) 1 through 4

The school is located in Karubanda Ward, Nyakakika Village near the town of Kabale. This was the first project undertaken by the Kabale Education Fund. Before the school was built the children were being taught outdoors. Four classrooms and one office were built. There is potential to attract more kids to attend school and for that reason another four classrooms are needed to accommodate primary level 5 through 7. A pit latrine with 6 stalls, or as they say in Uganda, 6 stances was also built. Parents and other members of the local community contribute to the school by making bricks and participating in its construction.They continue to support the school, a fact that ensures its success. The number one challenge here is that families are not able to pay fees for school or even provide food for their children. They pay what they can afford and hope the administration will understand their situation. The other challenge is that the water source is a mile away which makes the cost per “jerrican” (Plastic container) is a big expense for the school.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Exterior shot of the newly constructed classrooms at the St. Elizabeth Primary School in Bushure-Kerere.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Three students pose during their recess break outside the newly constructed St. Elizabeth Primary School in Bushure-Kerere.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students show off their gardening projects at St Elizabeth Primary School in Bushere-Kerere.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students listen as they attend class in one of the newly constructed school rooms.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students take a break from learning to pose for a picture.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students take notes during a lecture inside one of the newly constructed classrooms at St. Elizabeth Primary School.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students learn about farming techniques during their time at St. Elizabeth Primary School in Bushure-Kerere.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students apply their learning on farming techniques during their time at St. Elizabeth Primary School in Bushure-Kerere.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Students learn about farming techniques during their time at St. Elizabeth Primary School in Bushure-Kerere.

St. Elizabeth Primary School

Constructed in 2012. Serves around 250 children Boys & Girls

Level (Grades) 1 through 7

This school is located in Rubanda district. It is in a place called Bushure-Kerere, in the middle of a forest. In phase 1, 3 classrooms with concrete floors were built, with help and support from the local people. In phase 2 was the construction of 5 additional classrooms. Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish in Bremerton, Washington, donated money that was used to purchase and install above ground water tanks. It was the first local source of clean water in the area. Five acres of land was purchased adjacent to the school, and is used to grow vegetables to supplement the children’s diet and to teach agriculture to the students and local community.

St. Theresa Girls Vocational School

A group of students gather outside during a break from classes at their school located in the Rushoroza Parish of Kabale, Uganda.

ST. THERESA GIRLS VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

Serves 450 Girls

Located in Rushoroza district of Kabale, St. Theresa Girls Vocational Secondary School was started by the Diocese of Kabale to care for the “vulnerable girl child”, an expression Fr. Justus uses to describe poor and orphaned girls with no opportunity for an education or a way out of poverty. Presently it is now both an ordinary level school (Form 1-4) and advanced level high school (Form 5-6). The Sisters of Good Counsel teach the girls of St. Thesesa. A dining hall was constructed through the generosity of one donor. Very quickly the need for a dormitory became a higher priority than a dining hall, so it was converted. More recently, the school began work on an advanced level building with space for a library. Unable to finish the project, the building was in danger of being ruined when donations to the Kabale Education Fund made completion possible. Contributions also purchased books. The Kabale Education Fund contributed money for the purchase of a generator which allows the girls to study after dark. An acute water shortage affected the school. A water system with 3 above ground reserve tanks was added to the school through the generosity of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Bremerton, Washington. Just this year the school was upgraded to an Advanced Level High School. This means the students will be eligible to go directly to university upon graduation.

St. Paul’s Seminary

SERVES 420 Boys and young men

St. Paul’s is a minor seminary located in Rushoroza-Kabale. It is an advanced college preparatory high school with a focus on Catholic education. If called to the priesthood, young men may enter one of the national seminaries upon graduation from St Paul’s. Construction had started on a library building when funding then ran out. Unable to complete it, the building was deteriorating. With support from the Kabale Education Fund and generous donations, a library and computer lab was constructed. Donations from the Knights of Columbus and businessmen in Camas, Washington supplied the computers. A young man who had graduated from St. Paul’s, returned from university to set up the computer lab. Truly a great success story!

ST. PAUL PRIMARY SCHOOL

Serves around 400 Children boys & girls

Levels (Grades) 1 through 7

Located in Rwanyena-Kabale at a Catholic parish that is at the border of Uganda and Rwanda, this school is in a very isolated area. The school had four classrooms when four more were added. Underground water tanks were installed making collection of rainwater in the rainy season possible for use all year around. With access to affordable education, the number of students surged. Many students walk up to 10 kilometers or 6 miles to school every day. A dormitory was constructed which now houses 42 boys. A girls’ dormitory has been built as well with 42 girls living there. Now these students have time to really focus on their studies.

Uganda Martyrs Preparatory School

Students stand outside the construction of their soon-to-be classrooms.

Uganda Martyrs Preparatory School

Students line up for a photo outside of the construction of their soon-to-be classrooms.

Uganda Martyrs Preparatory School

Students wave to the camera during a break from class.

UGANDA MARTYRS PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Serves Around 405 students, girls & boys

Uganda Martyrs was not built by contributions to the Kabale Education Fund. Rather this school was constructed with a donation from one generous benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous. There is a great need for a dining hall for this school. Currently, students eat in the dusty compound while sitting on the ground. As you can imagine this is an unhealthy situation. Dining halls serve many purposes. They can be used for exams or converted to classrooms if necessary. Remember, a child can be educated with meals and supplies for about $25 a month.