A new dawn for Kikyamuzi
How a village with no school of its own became home to over 500 learners.
Built by the community, for the community
Kikyamuzi is a farming village in Kakumiro District, Uganda, roughly 4 km off the main road. For years, families here had no good school of their own. Children who wanted a quality education had to walk long distances, or travel as far as Mubende or Hoima, a journey that pushed many into dropping out altogether, and left girls especially vulnerable to early marriage.
St. Mary's Nursery & Primary School opened its doors in 2018 to change that story. The initiative began with Fr. Emmanuel Barongo, M. Afr., who travelled with the community and friends of the school to found a place where every child could access good, quality education. What began as a response to a clear and urgent need has grown into a school that over 500 children now call their own, many of them from families who could not otherwise afford an education.
We are still growing. Our classrooms are finished and in use, and we are grateful for what the community and supporters have built. Dormitories have helped children avoid walking long distances, but they are now full and congested, so they also need to expand. We need more classrooms as enrollment grows, while our compound needs a reliable food source and our teachers need a place to stay. Every day, St. Mary's stands as proof that a village can build its own new dawn.
How Kikyamuzi built its own school
From no school of their own to a home for 500+ learners, here is how it has unfolded.
No school of their own
Kikyamuzi had no good school nearby. Children walked long distances, or travelled as far as Mubende or Hoima, a journey that pushed many to drop out, and left girls especially vulnerable to early marriage.
St. Mary's opens its doors
Fr. Emmanuel Barongo, M. Afr., travelled with the community and friends of the school to found St. Mary's, starting small, with a handful of classrooms and one clear purpose: quality education for every child.
Building, one wall at a time
The classrooms built through community effort and donor support are finished and in daily use. As more children enroll, St. Mary's now needs additional classrooms to expand access and keep classes manageable.
Solar power and first computers arrive
Thanks to generous donors, St. Mary's now has solar power and a first set of computers, a first step toward technology access in a community with no grid electricity.
Over 500 children have benfited from this project
What began as a response to urgent need of the community has grown into a school serving the whole village, still growing, still building, one priority at a time.
Our Mission
Promoting human dignity and life in abundance for all.
Our Vision
Transforming the lives of every person and family through education and programs centred on uplifting the standard of living of the community.
What we instill in every child
Love
Every child is treated with warmth, patience, and dignity, regardless of background.
Generosity
Sharing what little we have (food, time, knowledge) so that no child is left out.
Responsibility
Teaching children to own their learning, their chores, and their future.
Integrity
Honesty in the classroom, on the playground, and in how we account for support given to us.
Hardworking Spirit
Modelling the same diligence we ask of our pupils, from the garden to the classroom.
Family Spirit
A school that feels like an extension of home, the way Kikyamuzi looks after its own.
Protecting the futures most at risk
St. Mary's educates every child without discrimination, but girls in Kikyamuzi carry a disproportionate share of poverty's weight.
Girls in this community are more exposed to domestic hardship and are more likely to be pulled out of school early, often into early marriage. Educating them isn't a side project; it is one of the most direct ways to build resilience, dignity, and lasting economic power in Kikyamuzi. That is why girl-child empowerment sits at the center of our daily work, not at the margins of it.
The people behind St. Mary's
Fr. Emmanuel Barongo, M. Afr.
Founder & Author of the School Concept
A Missionary of Africa who travelled with the community and friends of the school to found St. Mary's, bringing a solution to the alcoholism, illiteracy, and ignorance that had long kept Kikyamuzi in the dark.
Our Teaching Staff
Educators & Caregivers
A dedicated team who show up daily for classes, meals, and the countless small needs of 500+ children.
The Wider School Family
Support Staff & Community
From kitchen staff to groundskeepers, St. Mary's runs on the same family spirit it teaches its pupils.
Find us in Kikyamuzi
P.O Box 117282, Kampala, Uganda
Every child deserves a safe classroom, clean water, and the care and resources they need to learn and thrive.
Join us in Kikyamuzi, as a donor, a sponsor, or a partner.