St. Thereza Girls Marks 50 Years with Golden Jubilee Celebration
St. Thereza Girls’ Secondary School Nyamigisa in Masindi District on October 1st, 2025, marked its golden jubilee, celebrating 50 years of educating and empowering the girl child.
The celebration, held under the theme of excellence and resilience, also served as a fundraising drive to support the construction of a four-storey classroom and storage block. According to the school, the need for additional facilities has been heightened by the new curriculum, which fully occupies the science laboratory, leaving limited space for storage and teaching.
Headteacher’s appeal for support
Headteacher Sr. Angella Baganiza said the school continues to struggle with inadequate infrastructure, including classrooms, dormitories, a modern computer lab, and a library for both A’Level and O’Level students. This, she noted, has forced the school to limit student admissions.
“St. Thereza Girls was founded in 1975 by Bishop Albert Edward Baharagate and the Nyamigisa community. Since then, nine headteachers have overseen its growth. Over the years, more than 94,000 students, including 63 nuns and two priests, have passed through this school,” Sr. Angella said.
She thanked the school’s founders, including the late Bishop Baharagate, Bishop Byabazaire, Father Kyaligonza, and community members such as Mary Kabasindi and the family of Martin Byaruhanga, for their contribution to establishing the institution.
The Headteacher revealed that stakeholders had already started raising funds, with each board member and Parents Teachers Association (PTA) member contributing UGX 300,000, teachers UGX 50,000, non-teaching staff UGX 25,000, and parents a bag of cement annually. She urged well-wishers to continue supporting the project.
Bishop praises milestone
Hoima Diocese Bishop, Rt. Rev. Vincent Kirabo, who presided over mass, praised the school’s legacy in shaping girls into leaders and agents of change.
“This school has provided integral education that empowers girls to face life with creativity, courage, and faith. The trophies in the headteacher’s office show its achievements beyond academics, including sports and talent development,” Bishop Kirabo said.
He urged students to embrace the school’s Catholic values of discipline and hard work, saying St. Thereza had become “an important institution for both the diocese and the nation.”
Political leaders weigh in
Buruli County MP, Akugizibwe Alled Ronald, represented Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, who was unable to attend. He congratulated the school on reaching its golden jubilee and assured stakeholders that their fundraising concerns had been communicated to the prime minister.
“When you educate a girl, you educate a nation. The 50 years of St. Thereza have not been without challenges, but the achievements are immense. The prime minister has pledged her support for this project,” Alled said, adding that Nabbanja herself once studied at the school.
He also reminded teachers currently engaged in industrial action that government was in talks with their union and had promised salary increments in the next financial year.
Masindi Municipality MP, Businge Joab, who is also an old student of St. Thereza, commended the organizing committee for staging what he called “a memorable celebration.”
Fundraising drive
The jubilee ended with an auction of items to raise money for the planned building project, which the school hopes will ease overcrowding and improve learning conditions.
