The Chief Justice, Justice Dr Flavian Zeija, has urged students to embrace hard work, discipline and humility, saying their conduct at school can determine their future opportunities.
Justice Zeija made the call on Sunday during a Thanksgiving ceremony at St Mary’s College Rushoroza in Kabale District, organised to celebrate his appointment as Chief Justice of Uganda and honour him as an alumnus of the institution.
The event coincided with St Mary’s Day, celebrated in honour of the school’s patron saint, and included a fundraising drive towards the completion of a dining and multipurpose hall.
Addressing students, Justice Zeija challenged them to reject excuses for poor academic performance, drawing from his own experiences at the school to demonstrate how determination and sacrifice can help one overcome difficult circumstances.
He recalled that during his school days, transport to the institution was limited, with students sometimes forced to walk about 60 kilometres to reach the tarmac road if they missed the only bus plying their route.
Some students travelled on pickup trucks before carrying their luggage on their heads from drop-off points to the school.
“You may look at us and think perhaps we were born with a silver spoon. To the contrary, no. Our journey was not as smooth as yours, perhaps. For us, we were born in the village. At the time, there was only one bus plying the route, so if it left you, you had to walk 60 kilometres to the tarmac,” he said.
The Chief Justice also recalled the limited availability of learning materials, noting that his class had only one Economics textbook shared among students.
He attributed his success to hard work, determination and sacrifice, urging the current students to make the most of the educational resources and opportunities available to them.
“So, how did we move up to where we are today? It was through hard work, determination and sacrifice. Today, you cannot have an excuse for not excelling. It is not there,” he said.
Justice Zeija also warned students against indiscipline, saying their behaviour at school could influence important decisions about their future.
He revealed that when he was being considered for appointment as a High Court judge, a team visited St Mary’s College Rushoroza to establish his conduct while he was a student.
“When I was being appointed a Judge of the High Court, a team was sent here to find out how I was behaving at school. Now, assuming the headmaster had said that fellow was a thug when he was here, I would never have become a Judge,” he said.
He urged students to remain humble and avoid developing a sense of self-importance, noting that life beyond school comes with different responsibilities and challenges.
Justice Zeija also commended the school’s Old Boys and Old Girls for supporting its development, recalling that former students had mobilised resources to improve infrastructure after learners were forced to eat from a makeshift dining facility.
“Let’s continue supporting our school, let each of us know that this is where we derive our livelihood, which we are earning today,” he said.
He thanked the school administration for organising the Thanksgiving ceremony, recalling that a similar celebration had been planned when he was elevated from Principal Judge to Deputy Chief Justice but could not take place because of official assignments within and outside the country.
In his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Judiciary, Dr Pius Bigirimana, commended St Mary’s College Rushoroza for shaping generations of Ugandans, including the Chief Justice.
He urged parents and guardians to go beyond providing school fees, uniforms, food and shelter and invest in their children’s character, values, discipline and emotional development.
Dr Bigirimana observed that material support alone was insufficient to prepare children for responsible citizenship, emphasising the need for parents to lead by example.
“Are we spending enough time with our children? Are we modelling the values we wanted them to adopt? Are we teaching them integrity by being honest? Are we teaching them respect by being respectful ourselves? Are we teaching them discipline by being disciplined ourselves, or are we so busy working for them that we have forgotten to work on them?” he asked.
He called for joint efforts by families, schools, the Church, government and communities to nurture responsible citizens, saying teachers should play a central role in developing both academic excellence and good character.
Dr Bigirimana also pledged an additional contribution towards the completion of the school’s dining hall.
The head teacher of St Mary’s College Rushoroza, Christopher Monday, appealed to the government, parents, alumni and well-wishers to support the expansion of the school’s infrastructure to accommodate its growing student population, which has surpassed 1,700 learners.
Monday said the increasing enrolment reflected parents’ confidence in the school’s academic standards, discipline and commitment to nurturing students with strong moral and religious values.
He said the growth had created demand for additional classrooms, dormitories, sanitation facilities and other essential services to provide a safe and conducive learning environment.
Monday commended the government for providing financial support towards the construction of a new dining hall, saying the facility would improve students’ welfare and serve other purposes, including a chapel and an exhibition venue.
The project is valued at Shs800.2 million and includes furniture, landscaping, external works, underground water tanks and an electric cooking facility for Home Management students.
He said the school hoped to have the facility ready for use within five months, subject to the availability of the remaining funds.
The Bishop of Kabale Diocese, Rt Rev Bonaventure Bosco Gubazire, called for justice, protection of the common good and respect for the rule of law as key pillars in building a peaceful and orderly Uganda.
Bishop Gubazire commended the organising committee for its dedication and sacrifice in making the celebration successful.
He also applauded the school administration, teachers, non-teaching staff, students, parents and other stakeholders for their collective contribution to the institution’s achievements.
Describing the school community as the driving force behind the institution’s success, the bishop noted that St Mary’s College Rushoroza ranks among Uganda’s best-performing schools academically.
“You should feel proud as students of SMACO,” he said, urging learners to value their association with the institution and appreciate the efforts of those contributing to its success.
The Thanksgiving ceremony raised more than Shs188 million towards the school’s development initiatives, including the completion of the dining.
