STELLA T
Students have been urged to have hope, keep in prayer for blessings, have faith, and remain disciplined in order to succeed in school and life.
This call was made today, Saturday, October 25, 2025, by Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, the Vicar General of Kabale Diocese, at St. Gerald’s Secondary School Nyakibale in Rukungiri District while presiding over Holy Mass to celebrate St. Gerald’s Day.
Msgr. John Vianney Sunday said that the Catholic Church establishes educational institutions based on three pillars, namely God, Discipline, and Wisdom, plus understanding. He noted that students have special blessings and gifts that God has given them and that God is always with them. He asked them to always stay close to Him through the intercession of Mother Mary by keeping in prayer for those special blessings.
Msgr. John Vianney Sunday called on Christians to always have the mountain or pillar of prayer in their families, where they communicate with God, noting that God will always bless them in those mountains of prayer by making impossible things possible. He added that if they have hope and faith, Jesus will multiply it.
On the same day, there was a thanksgiving aimed at raising funds to complete the school dining hall, where over 26 million shillings were collected in both cash and pledges. Rev. Fr. Balthazar Ndyomugabe, the Chairperson of the Board of Governors for St. Gerald’s S.S. Nyakibale, thanked all who supported the school. He assured parents and the public that the school has been transformed under the new administration led by Mr. Cleophas Agaba as headteacher. In a special way, Fr. Ndyomugabe thanked Mr. Cleophas for his efforts in rejuvenating the school and setting it to a new standard.
Speaking at the function, Mr. Cleophas Agaba, the headteacher, said that because of the combined efforts of the students, parents, teachers, and board, the school has excelled in both academics and co-curricular activities. Due to this improvement, enrollment has increased, and the school now has 615 students. He added that since 2022, academic performance has greatly improved at both Ordinary and Advanced Levels.
Mr. Cleophas also highlighted some challenges currently faced by the school, which include limited operational expenses, old structures, lack of staff houses and poorly maintained existing ones, unpaid salaries, outstanding debts, and leaking roofs in most dormitories and classrooms. He appealed for more support to overcome these challenges.
Speaking as Chief Guest, Mr. Buron Kikashemeza, the Rukungiri District Resident Commissioner who represented the Minister for Security, Gen. Jim Muhwezi, encouraged students to cultivate hope and discipline in order to be successful in school.
He expressed gratitude to the parents for their continuous support and assured the public that the funds collected would be used effectively to improve the school. He also thanked parents for having confidence in their school and contributed 5 million shillings to support the dining hall fundraising.
The Old Students, under their umbrella body St. Gerald’s Old Students Association (SGOSA), congratulated the school administration, parents, and students upon the celebration of St. Gerald’s Day. Mr. Paul Turacayisenga, Chairperson of SGOSA, said the association was established in 2021 to bring together Old Students to support their alma mater at a time when it was declining in standards. He assured students not to lose hope, noting that with faith and hope, they will stay on track, as St. Gerald’s is the foundation of success.
A total of 26,002,700 shillings and two trips of sand were raised during the fundraising aimed at completing the school dining hall.
