Bishop Senior School Mukono has turned a significant page in its history following the retirement of longtime Headteacher Robert Kyakulaga, whose nearly 11-year tenure was credited with strengthening the institution’s academic standing, expanding infrastructure, and shaping a culture of discipline and teamwork.
The transition was marked by an emotional thanksgiving and farewell service held at the school on Friday evening, drawing clergy, education leaders, parents, alumni, and students in celebration of a man many described as a transformative leader.
The ceremony, presided over by the Bishop of Mukono, Rt. Rev. Enos Kitto Kagodo, highlighted both the achievements of the outgoing headteacher and the expectations awaiting his successor, John Ssenkuuma Musoke.
For Bishop Senior School Mukono, one of the Diocese of Mukono’s most respected educational institutions, the handover represented more than a leadership change. It reflected continuity, legacy, and the enduring role of faith-based schools in Uganda’s education system.
Bishop Kagodo used the occasion to urge Christians and education stakeholders to place God at the centre of their work and personal lives, saying success is rooted in spiritual grounding and service to others.
“Put God first in your lives and let Him take precedence over everything else, in your homes, at work, and in all other positions. That is how you will attain success,” he said.
The bishop described Kyakulaga as a resilient and dependable leader whose service had preserved the standards and reputation of the school despite the changing demands of modern education.
Over the years, Bishop Senior School Mukono has built a reputation not only for academic excellence but also for producing influential leaders within the Anglican Church and wider society, including three bishops. Church leaders at the ceremony repeatedly stressed that maintaining this legacy would require discipline, unity, and visionary leadership.
Bishop Kagodo praised the outgoing headteacher for steering the institution through years of growth while working closely with teachers, non-teaching staff, and the school Board.
“He retires as a victor,” the bishop remarked, noting that Kyakulaga’s leadership had left the school stronger than he found it.
The bishop also used the occasion to remind educators that retirement should not be viewed as the end of service but rather the beginning of a new chapter.
“God’s eye has been upon you throughout your journey,” he told Kyakulaga, encouraging him to continue serving the Church and the education sector in different capacities.
The farewell service also served as the formal unveiling of Kyakulaga’s successor, John Ssenkuuma Musoke, formerly Headteacher of St. Peter’s Kibuzi Secondary School in Kayunga.
Bishop Kagodo challenged the incoming headteacher to remain prayerful and collaborative, emphasizing the importance of working closely with the Board and staff to sustain the school’s momentum.
Musoke assumes office at a time when schools across Uganda are grappling with evolving educational demands, digital transformation, and increasing pressure from parents for stronger academic performance and discipline.
In his acceptance speech, Musoke projected confidence and ambition, promising to harness partnerships and networks to elevate the school further.
“I come with valuable networks and partnerships that will enable us to elevate this institution to greater heights,” he said.
Addressing members of staff directly, he pledged a leadership style rooted in teamwork and consultation.
“Staff, you are the driving force of this institution. I pledge to work diligently alongside you so that we can achieve our shared goals,” he said, urging unity and mutual support among employees.
The handover comes at a time when faith-based institutions continue to play a major role in Uganda’s secondary education landscape. Anglican-founded schools, particularly in central Uganda, have long positioned themselves as centres of both academic excellence and moral formation.
Speakers at the event repeatedly emphasized discipline and values as central pillars of the school’s identity.
Among those who echoed this message was James William Ssebaggala, who commended the school staff for their commitment to maintaining high standards over the years.
He praised teachers for nurturing disciplined students and preserving the institution’s reputation through hard work and dedication.
“They must continue to uphold and strengthen the mission, objectives, and goals of this school,” he said.
Bishop Ssebaggala also called on staff and stakeholders to accord Musoke the same level of support they had given Kyakulaga, warning that leadership transitions often test institutional unity.
In a notable gesture aimed at supporting education continuity, he announced 85 scholarships for students from Bishop Senior School Mukono to pursue further studies at Avance International University.
For many at the ceremony, however, the emotional centre remained Kyakulaga himself, whose journey at the school spans nearly three decades.
Reflecting on his career, the outgoing headteacher recalled beginning his teaching profession at Mityana Secondary School in 1991 before being transferred to Bishop Senior School Mukono in February 1998 with a specific assignment to improve science performance.
Over the years, he rose through the ranks, serving as Director of Studies and Deputy Headteacher before eventually becoming Headteacher in 2015.
His tenure coincided with a period of significant transformation at the school.
In his farewell remarks, Kyakulaga highlighted achievements including the creation of a highly motivated staff team, growth in student discipline and academic focus, major technological and infrastructural development, and a fourfold increase in annual school revenue.
The expansion of infrastructure and integration of technology reflected broader shifts occurring within Uganda’s private and church-founded schools, many of which are increasingly investing in digital learning and modern facilities to remain competitive.
Yet beyond physical development, Kyakulaga emphasized institutional culture as his proudest achievement.
Observers at the ceremony noted that Bishop Senior School Mukono has, over the years, distinguished itself through a balance of academic competitiveness and moral instruction, a combination many educators argue is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain amid social and economic pressures facing schools today.
Kyakulaga expressed gratitude to the Diocese of Mukono for entrusting him with leadership and supporting him spiritually, morally, and administratively throughout his tenure.
“On March 6, 2015, the leadership of this school was handed over to me amidst anxiety and fear of the unknown. I am excited that today, June 5, 2026, I have handed over the leadership of this mighty school with happiness and confidence that all is well and will remain well,” he said.
His remarks drew applause from guests who described his departure as the conclusion of an era marked by stability and institutional growth.
The ceremony attracted a wide range of dignitaries and stakeholders, including the Bishop’s wife Ms Catherine Kitto, the Provost The Very Rev. Canon Godfrey Ssengendo, Diocesan Secretary Rev. John Musoke, Seeta Archdeacon Rev. Canon Edward Balamaze Kironde, clergy, lay readers, headteachers from other schools, Board members, parents, and students.
The large turnout reflected the school’s significance within the Diocese of Mukono and the wider educational community.
As the institution transitions into new leadership, expectations remain high that the foundations laid during Kyakulaga’s tenure will continue to guide its future direction.
For many education stakeholders present, the ceremony was not simply about retirement or appointment. It was about stewardship, continuity, and the enduring influence of leadership in shaping generations of young people.
In Uganda’s increasingly competitive education sector, the challenge before Bishop Senior School Mukono will be to preserve its identity while adapting to changing times. Whether under Kyakulaga or Musoke, speakers at the event agreed on one principle: the strength of an institution ultimately depends on the values it chooses to uphold.
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