The Journey of ACT Uganda with Muko High School

In August of 2017, a US travel team spent about two weeks in Muko, Uganda working with our Ugandan partners on the various programs underway there including our HONOR scholarship Program. The day before the team was scheduled to return to the US, we received an inquiry from Bishop George Bagamuhunda of the Church of Uganda's Kigezi Diocese regarding our interest in exploring ACT to assume the operation of the church's Muko High School (MHS). As he put it humorously, "we know how to save souls; you know how to run schools!" The next day the Bishop was returning from a meeting in Kampala while the travel team was en-route to the airport in Entebbe for their return flight to the US (an 8-hour journey). Arrangements were made to meet along the roadside where an Agreement in Principle was reached. 

Travel Team roadside meeting with Bishop George Bagamuhunda
Left to right: Joe Oprea, Karen Viele, Dave Viele, Bishop, Sue Waechter, Diana Stubig, Dick Dolinski

Over the next few months, a Memorandum of Understanding (essentially a contract) was developed and implemented. ACT Uganda began operating the school in January of 2018.

Muko High School in 2017

Since that time, ACT has made many significant facility improvements at MHS including installing a rainwater collection, storage, and purification system, outfitting the school buildings with solar panels, building and outfitting a science laboratory, improving student, Head Teacher and faculty housing, acquiring equipment and furniture, installing new roofing, shutters and windows, and bolstering site security.

Muko High School today with solar power system and building improvements

The new Science Lab for Chemistry, Agriculture, Physics and Biology

Administration improvements include the hiring of a Head Teacher, Director of Studies, and a Bursar (Treasurer), reorganizing the ACT staff to provide supervision of and assistance with managing incoming grants, donations, and school finances. A Board of Governors has been established while the Parent Teacher Association and the Old Boy/Old Girl (Alumni) groups have been re-energized and are supporting the school.

Huge thanks goes to a number of people for this success: Bishop Bagamuhunda, Generous Turinawe (ACT Uganda Director), Rev Philip Ntwirenabo (Head Teacher MHS), Alexander Gumoshabe (ACT Uganda Senior Manager and Project Coordinator), Prudance Kengyeyo (Bursar), and Dave and Karen Viele (former ACT US Board Members) and many others.

With these improvements, MHS has enjoyed many successes. Academic performance by students is among the highest in its district. Enrollment has increased from just over 100 students to 690! Tuition payments and good financial management are now sufficient to support the operating expenses enabling the school to be sustainable. The current renewed MOU expires in December 2024 and plans are to have MHS operate independently from ACT. 

MHS is another distinct success for ACT in alignment with our vision of building long-term self-sustainability in the transformation of Muko Sub County. And none of this success would be possible without the dedicated financial support of many of you along the way. Education in Muko Sub County has been transformed!

- Dick Dolinski, ACT US Board Member






Comments

  1. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2024 at 6:30 AM

    Congratulations on this wonderful achievement!

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousJanuary 9, 2024 at 10:11 AM

    Education opens the door to opportunity and growth. The school is a community asset.

    ReplyDelete

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