About the Founders
Ronald and Sandy Smith founded Friends of St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School after visiting the school twice within a three month span. We came across the school while gorilla tracking in Uganda in October 2022. After meeting students, teachers and Father Nestorio, we knew that we could help St. Kizito’s.
Since 2019, God has told us to prepare for a new way of life. Around that time, Sandy and I started talking about doing missionary work. We were making plans to go to Rwanda to serve, then Covid hit, and everything changed as volunteer opportunities shut down. In early 2022, while volunteering at the Orange County Rescue Mission, Sandy learned of an organization, He Intends Victory, that takes people on missionary trips to different countries. She learned that they were planning a trip to Tanzania and Kenya in October 2022. We did a little research and then signed up for the trip. The organization focuses on individuals impacted by HIV and AIDS. While this is not our focal point, we saw the trip as an opportunity to do missionary work and to see if that is what God is calling us to do. We opened our hearts to see Jesus Christ in people and to be seen as followers of Jesus Christ.
During the missionary trip to Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, Sandy and I visited many places and witnessed tremendous needs. We were pleased to see signs of Christianity in all three countries. We drove by many churches and visited several during our outreaches. Our visit to Uganda left us with a lasting impression and a calling to go back and make a difference. During a visit to St. Paul’s Catholic Church Rubuguri, we visited the parish and St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School and had the pleasure of meeting Father Nestorio Niwagaba. He provided a tour of the school and parish grounds, and shared thoughts on expansion including a rendition of a girl’s dormitory. It was easy to see some of the needs of the school including replacing dirt floors in classrooms. The kids would not let Sandy go. They followed us everywhere we went, holding her hand and talking with her. Before leaving the site, Sandy, and I both knew that St. Kizito’s is where we want to contribute. As we drove away, we saw children walking home and playing. We saw them walking to school in the dark at 6:30 am the next morning as we were driving to the airport.
St. Kizito’s is located on a mountain road, about twenty minutes from the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest. Children walk for miles to reach the school; some of them without shoes. The children appear happy and enjoying the learning experience. The school has classrooms with dirt floors and the only classroom with a concrete floor has been converted into a dormitory for boys. The school serves approximately 540 students. It needs dormitories for girls and boys and additional classrooms to enhance the overall learning experience and reduce the pupils per class ratio. There are additional needs as well. There is plenty of land for expansion. Funding is needed to help the children achieve their fullest potential.
Sandy and I are both convinced that people who visit holy sites in Uganda will develop a greater sense of community with the people of faith living there. They will also appreciate the blessings that they have received and may be willing to share with those communities in need. It is estimated that over eighty percent of the population is Christian with Catholics leading the way with more than thirty-five percent, followed by Anglican (thirty percent) and Pentecostal (ten percent). These believers need our help to continue spreading the gospel in Uganda and throughout the world.
About the School & St. Pauls Catholic Church, Rubuguri
The school is called St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School. It was named after the youngest Ugandan Martyr, St. Kizito who is the patron saint of the school going children. The school is located within the premises of Rubuguri Catholic Parish. It is a Catholic Church founded school but we welcome each and every denomination that wishes to acquire educational services within our school. The school began on 6th February 2008 after our diocesan synod which encouraged every Parish to have a model primary school. This was due to the fact that schools with government partnership had failed to bring out the well desired results leading to many drop outs after Primary Seven. Hence the need to promote good performance and Secondary education.
Rubuguri Catholic Church started way back in 1957 as a sub-Parish of Mutolere Parish under the leadership of the Comboni Missionaries. It was later given the parish status on 29th October 1989 by the Rt. Rev. Barnabas Halem’Imana (R.I.P) who was at that time the Bishop of Kabale Diocese. It is found in a remote area with impassable and slippery roads. The parish has 33 other Churches with 33 Catechists. Among these, we have five Eucharist Centres and nine Sub-centres.
The school is headed by Mr. Abel Halerimana, assisted by Ms. Turihabwe Judith. Fr. Nestorio Niwagaba is the director of the school. The school is located in Rubuguri Town Council, Bukimbiri County, Kisoro District southwestern part of Uganda. It is also found near Bwindi National Park in the green vegetation area. The place is cold and receives heavy rainfall.
For any information, contact the director on: nestorioniwabs@gmail.com or 0777830854
St. Pauls Catholic Church Rubuguri
We celebrate Mass at the Parish daily at 7:15 am. On Sundays, we celebrate two Masses at 8:00 am and 10:30 am respectively. The liturgy is always lively and enjoyable. Dancing and yelling is part and parcel of the African liturgy. The children normally have their liturgy on Fridays. They love worshiping the Lord and are always active.
Apart from Mass, there is also service which is led by the catechists. We try to reach all the sub parishes but not on a daily basis. Where we are not, the catechists celebrate the service for the Christians.
I am Fr. Nestorio Niwagaba, a Catholic Priest of Kabale Diocese. I serve as a Parish Priest and Director of St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School. I was ordained a priest on 22nd July 2017. I Served as an assistant Priest and later on 30th May 2018, the Bishop entrusted me with the leadership of Rubuguri Catholic Parish. I was born on 13th March 1986. I attended Primary for seven years, secondary for six years and seminary formation for eight years. Priesthood needs faithfulness, self sacrifice, obedience to the Lord and the Church, commitment, determination, availability and transparency for the service of the people and the Lord. Discernment is a necessity much as the Lord’s calling is important. The two need to be reconciled so the one called responds with a positive mind.
I became a priest to serve God’s people and administer sacraments because I grew up seeing priests very few and taking longer to appear at some village churches where I grew from. So I felt that I should close that gap and help in the administration of sacraments so as the people of God can get enriched spiritually.
Fr. Vincent Ankunda is my workmate. We serve this community of Rubuguri Catholic Parish. He is the chaplain of all schools in our Parish. We took the same formation and years. He was ordained on 11th August 2018, and he is four years in Priesthood.
In any other basic information, we have other 10 Primary schools which are government aided, 2 Private Primary schools St. Kizito inclusive, 5 Kindergartens and 3 secondary schools. We also have a good health facility known as Nkuringo Green Hill Health Centre.
We also have a guest house and a campsite down the Parish between St. Joseph’s Rubuguri Vocational S.S and St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary school.
Thank you once again for your generous contribution in helping St. Kizito. May the Good Lord reward you abundantly.
Regards from Fr. Nestorio Niwagaba.
Why Donate
Why should someone donate?
There are unmet needs in Rubuguri and the surrounding community. By investing in St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School, an individual can participate in the transformation process of opening educational and economic opportunities for current and future generations. Your support will help complete classroom buildings; replace aging classrooms with modern facilities; build a girls dormitory to increase the likelihood that girls will stay in school; enhance student learning through increased teacher training; provide additional textbooks and learning materials; and add computers and WIFI to the campus. Your donation will have a lasting impact. The administration is efficient and takes steps to ensure that funds are used wisely.
How to get involved
Come and see St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School in person. Share in the daily activities of our students and faculty. We are looking for volunteers to help plan the next phases of the campus renovation. We are also open to individuals and groups that can help with teacher training, staff development, and improving student nutrition. If you would like to share your expertise while learning more about our work, we look forward to your visit. Safe, convenient accommodations can be arranged to make your visit a wonderful experience.
If you would like to support St. Kizito Rubuguri Primary School, there are several options including:
- Visit the school as a volunteer
- Provide technical assistance or expertise on one or more school projects
- Provide financial support
- Sponsor a Student to attend Primary School
When you sponsor a child, you not only help the child: you help the entire family. Your support may alleviate the poverty that the family experiences while making it possible for other children to begin or continue their education. Your contribution covers tuition and school fees, meals at school, exams, stationary, notebooks, clean drinking water, school uniforms and clothing. If the child is a boarder on campus, housing fees are also covered along with supplies needed while living in the dormitory.
- Sponsor a Student to attend Secondary School When you sponsor a student in secondary school, you increase the likelihood that the student will complete their studies and possibly attend university. Your donation may also help the family as there may be younger children that may or not be able to attend primary school due to the family financial situation.
- Purchase / Sponsor a Desk
- Donate a $7.00 Sweater
- Send supplies to the school
- Encourage your church, business or organization to make a contribution
- Share the Good News about the school with others. We will provide materials that can be shared
- Pray for the students, staff, and parents of St. Kizito’s
- Provide strategies and solutions to meet the needs of the school
- Consider advising our Board of Directors
SCHOOL SHOES & SWEATER DONATIONS
Donate to a child today!
Some children walk miles to get an education with no shoes please consider donating a pair of school shoes to a child in need. ($15)
($7 donation buys a new school sweater for a student in need)