VANESSA A
Parents and students at St Joseph’s Vocational Secondary School in Rushasha, Nyakagyeme Subcounty, have been urged to emulate St Joseph’s example of responsible family leadership, respect for all genders, and obedience to God.
The remarks were made by Rev. Fr. Sunday Vianney Nyakyibare, Dean of the Deanery and Parish Priest of Christ the King, who served as the chief guest during the combined celebrations of St Joseph’s Day, a PTA meeting, and the announcement of the 2025 UCE and UACE results.
During Mass, Rev. Fr. Vianney congratulated the students for their hard work and academic achievements. He urged parents to continue nurturing their children in the teachings of Christ, just as St Joseph guided Jesus, emphasizing that such guidance helps students grow into responsible and disciplined adults.
Rev. Fr. Vianney also encouraged both parents and students to practice St Joseph’s obedience. He stressed that children should respect and learn from their parents, while parents should care equally for both boys and girls. He reminded attendees that accountability in life determines one’s path to heaven and advised students not to compare themselves to others’ families, as God places each child in a home suited for them.
Speaking during the event, Headmistress Mary Mariet Kemigisha reported that out of 58 staff members, only 13 are on the government payroll. She thanked God for the school’s strong academic performance, noting that all 215 students in the 2025 UCE cohort passed, while the best A-Level student achieved 19 points and all 61 A-Level students qualified for higher institutions. She attributed the success to the discipline of the students and strong collaboration between staff and parents.
Despite these successes, Ms. Kemigisha highlighted several challenges, including the lack of hydroelectric power, which forces the school to spend 120,000 UGX daily on fuel, absenteeism among day scholars, limited staff quarters, a small number of government-paid teachers, and delayed school fee payments. She expressed gratitude to parents for their commitment, the government for supporting staff salaries, and the church for instilling Christian values and discipline in the students.
PTA Chairman Sempa Vincent also thanked parents for trusting the school with their children, noting that their discipline has greatly contributed to excellent performance. He urged parents to continue providing scholastic materials and to pay school fees on time to support the smooth running of school programs.
The celebration of St Joseph’s Day alongside the academic achievements highlighted the school’s commitment to combining faith, discipline, and education for the holistic development of its students.
