Mt. St. Mary’s Namagunga

Nestled in the beautiful Kyaggwe County of Mukono district, lies Mt. St. Mary’s College, a historic girls’ boarding school founded in 1942. The brainchild of Mother Kevina, a trailblazing Irish nun from the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa, the school was established to promote education for girls and women in Uganda, a need that was then largely neglected.

From humble beginnings with just 12 students, the school has grown into a national institution that is government-aided and affiliated to Lugazi Diocese. Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga is the first secondary school for girls in Uganda, officially opened in 1946 with 65 students. Since then, it has remained at the forefront of promoting women’s education in the country.

The school’s mission is to provide quality education to the girl child and instill moral values for sustainable individual and societal development. This aligns perfectly with the government’s objective of sensitizing and emancipating women through education, a vision that the school founders shared.

Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga aims to shape young girls into enlightened and God-fearing citizens through discipline and academic excellence. The school also seeks to sensitize and raise the status of women and girls through education, giving them the opportunity to contribute to society and the development of their country. Leadership training is another critical aspect of the school’s objectives, as it seeks to prepare young women to competently assume leadership roles in Uganda.

Beyond education, the school equips its students with practical skills that will help them become self-sustaining. The founders of Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga recognized that education alone is not enough; young women must also be empowered with practical skills that will enable them to lead productive lives and contribute to the development of their communities.

In summary, Mt. St. Mary’s College Namagunga is a trailblazing institution that has remained committed to promoting education for girls and women in Uganda. With its focus on academic excellence, moral values, leadership, and practical skills, the school is shaping a new generation of enlightened and empowered young women who will undoubtedly make significant contributions to the development of their country.