Kamuli, Uganda: The Namasagali Old Students Association (NOSA) has hailed the 2025 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) results as a turning point in the revival of Namasagali College, saying the performance signals a steady return to the institution’s historic academic excellence.
Alumni leaders described the results as a morale booster for former students and a fitting tribute to the late Rev. Fr. Damien Grimes, the legendary headmaster who led the college from 1967 to 2000 and whose remains were interred at the school chapel grounds in September 2024.
Fr. Grimes, fondly known as the “Bloody Lion” by generations of students, was laid to rest at Namasagali in line with his final wish, with a mausoleum consecrated in his honour as both a religious and educational tourism site celebrating his legacy.
NOSA President Maureen Mwagale said the 2025 UCE performance offers renewed hope that the school’s motto, Strive Regardless, continues to guide its academic direction.
“All indications are that the education weather is becoming better for Namasagali College to rise back to its status,” Mwagale said, adding that the mausoleum symbolizes a “legacy of service, love and unwavering dedication.”
Uganda’s Ambassador Plenipotentiary to Russia, Moses Kizige, a former Deputy High Reeve of the college, called on prominent alumni — including business leaders and public figures — to intensify support for the school’s restoration efforts.
“A lion is a lion even in its sleep,” Kizige said, noting that the improved results should motivate old students to rally behind ongoing development initiatives.
Namasagali Headteacher, Mr Bena Siminyu, reported a general upward trend in subject performance compared to 2024, citing notable gains in both sciences and humanities.
Entrepreneurship posted a 22.67% improvement in qualitative pass rate, followed by Physics (17.04%), Mathematics (16.84%), Kiswahili (10.00%) and Lusoga (8.75%).
“Across the board, Namasagali College shows a general upward trend in subject performance from 2024 to 2025. Most subjects recorded higher qualitative pass rates, with only a few experiencing declines,” Siminyu said.
She added that increased candidate numbers in certain subjects influenced grade distribution but emphasized that stronger performance in core sciences and languages points to improved teacher-learner engagement.
Revival Agenda
The alumni forum continues to review past programmes, recognise milestones and chart new development initiatives aimed at restoring the college’s former stature as one of Uganda’s premier secondary schools.
Old students have previously spearheaded fundraising drives, including administrative block support initiatives, as part of broader efforts to rehabilitate infrastructure and strengthen academic systems.
With the 2025 UCE results providing fresh momentum, alumni say the path toward full revival is gaining clarity — anchored in the enduring legacy of Fr. Grimes and the college’s founding ideals.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
