A 45-member delegation from Muntuyera High School - Kitunga in Uganda, last weekend visited Kigali to formalise a collaborative partnership with Alumni who now live and work in Rwanda.

The delegation comprised board members, as well as teaching and non-teaching staff.

According to the school head teacher, Stephen Atuhaire Tweheyo, the team came to Rwanda to consolidate a relationship with their former students of Rwandan origin as well as seek partnerships with local high schools.

This, Tweheyo said, is geared toward meaningful regional integration.

Muntuyera High school- Kitunga is a 51-year old boys secondary school located in Ntungamo District, south western Uganda.

"We came here for a tour; we wanted to see what is happening in Rwanda and to be able to meet with some of our old boys (OBs) under Muntuyera High School Kitunga Old Students Association- Rwanda Chapter,” Tweheyo said.

He added, "Muntuyera High school is near Rwanda; the visit is going to increase the fraternity of OBs on either side of the border and create relations in terms of academic exchange.”

Tweheyo’s comments were echoed by Chairman Board of Directors, Prof. Caleb Tamwesigire.

"The visit aims at strengthening educational programmes in the East African sub region through educational exchange, capacity building and support, and infrastructural development to promote academic excellence,” Tamwesigire said.

Tamwesigire, who is also a lecturer at the University of Kigali, added that this bond could as well act as an ingredient for social development.

The delegation was received by high profile personalities, including the Minister for Justice, Johnston Busingye, who is also a former student, and Richard Kabonero, Uganda’s High Commissioner to Rwanda. 

Other prominent Rwandan alumni include Brig. Gen John Bagabo and Brig. Gen. Gacinya Rugumya.

The delegation toured various places around Kigali, including the Special Economic Zone and Kigali Genocide Memorial Centre among others.

"Rwanda is a case study that any person or researcher would want to draw a lesson from, in terms of governance, peace and reconciliation and development. This association should build synergy to help East Africa grow with similar standards in education, and social and economic sectors,” Tamwesigire added.

Richard Kalimba, the Chairman of Muntuyera High School Old Boys Association-Rwanda chapter, said there are about 70 registered old students in Rwanda. 

Kalimba, who was a refugee in Uganda back then, joined the school for S1 through S4 between 1965 and 1968.

He described the visit as "a sign of brotherhood; an indication of a strong bond which has a lot of significance in the region, in terms of movement of people, exchange of culture and knowledge.”

The school celebrated 50 years of existence in March last year, and the Rwanda OBs chapter made a donation of 50 desktop computers to promote ICT at the school. 

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