MR. G HEDDLE 1971 -1972 Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in the U.K., Teso College Aloet’s second Deputy Headmaster, Mr. Graham Heddle began his term in January 1966. Heddle’s passion for development motivated his move from Essex to Uganda and there he served under Mr. Jonny Jones and Mr. A.K. Tiberondwa, before becoming Acting Headmaster in […]

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MR. G HEDDLE 1971 -1972

Born in Southend-on-Sea, Essex in the U.K., Teso College Aloet’s second Deputy Headmaster, Mr. Graham Heddle began his term in January 1966. Heddle’s passion for development motivated his move from Essex to Uganda and there he served under Mr. Jonny Jones and Mr. A.K. Tiberondwa, before becoming Acting Headmaster in 1971. He later served as Headmaster of Moyo Secondary School. An alumnus of the University of Oxford, Heddle believed that the aims of the College should be twofold:

1. “To train boys of ability in academic disciplines, to encourage them to reach the highest standards of academic excellence, and to enable them to obtain academic qualification with which they will be equipped to play an active role in the future development of their country.

2. To produce men of honesty, integrity, and sound judgment: not men of uniform, stereotyped views, but of confident mind, capable of weighing the evidence on any question, and of acting with tolerance toward those of differing outlook; men who will be prudent, balanced, humane leaders in their society. ”

Other stakeholders are crucial in the progress and success in a school. Our gratitude goes to them for the concerted efforts they made in ensuring that the school sustains the upward trend in the revival of its once lost glories. These include, among others, the government of Uganda through Ministry of Education and Sports, Board of Governors, Parents-Teachers Association (PTA) Executive committee, Soroti Local Government Authorities, parents and guardians.

Biographical

Born 1930 in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, U.K.
Secondary Education: –
The Priory School, Shrewsbury (for 4 terms during World
War II when school children were evacuated from
Southend owing to the threat of bombing and of invasion).
Southend High School for Boys
National Service: –
Royal Army Ordinance Corps, including service in the Suez Canal Zone and in Agaba, Jordan.
University: – University of Oxford (St. Edmund Hall)
B.A. (Hons.) in Modern History, M.A. Diploma in Education
Teaching experience prior to Teso College: –
Eleven years at Rickmansworth Grammar School, teaching History and R.E., and becoming Senior History Master.

Teso College, Aloet
Both to widen my experience and to make some small contribution to the developing world I applied for service in Uganda under the British Overseas Aid Scheme, and was posted to Teso College in Jan. 1966.
In November 1967, on the retirement of Mr. Jonny Jones, Mr. F.C. Thomas became Acting Headmaster and I was appointed Acting Deputy Headmaster.
In March 1968, Mr. A.K. Tiberondwa been appointed Headmaster and Mr. F.C. Thomas having returned to the U.K., I was appointed substantive Deputy Headmaster.
From Sept. to Dec. 1969 I was Acting Headmaster while Mr. Tiberondwa was in the U.S.A. on study leave.
One of the outstanding events of Mr. Tiberondwa’s headship was a visit to the College by President Milton Obote. Mr. Tiberondwa was closely associated with Dr. Obote and, I believe, a personal friend.
Jan. 1971. Shortly after Idi Amin’s coup d’état, Mr. Tiberondwa left for Nairobi. This was not unusual, as he was a member of the Board of East African Airways and had to attend meetings there from time to time. However, I very soon had a telephone call, followed by a letter, from the Permanent-Secretary, Ministry of Education, telling me that Mr. Tiberondwa had been suspended from duty and that I was to take over as Acting Headmaster until further notice.
Aug. 1971. M. Tiberondwa returned, having been reinstated in the teaching profession, but at the end of the month was appointed Director of the National Teachers’ College, Kyambogo. I was again confirmed as Acting Headmaster and remained so until Jan. 1972, when I was appointed substantive headmaster of Moyo Secondary School.

The other questions I find more difficult to answer after 40 years! I always found the overwhelming majority of Teso College students to be polite, friendly, and well-motivated. Their essential loyalty to the leadership of the College was shown when certain “Confusing agents” (as one reports-termed then) attempted to stir up a major riot in November. 1971 by introducing frogs’ legs etc. into the students’ food! No doubt to the disappointment of the instigators, after the initial disturbance most students refused to get involved.

I have been re-reading an article I wrote during my time as Acting Headmaster of Teso College, extracts from which sum up what- I still believe should be the aims of the College. They are two-fold: –

1. To train boys of ability in academic disciplines, to encourage them to reach the highest standards of academic excellence, and to enable them to obtain academic qualification with which they will be equipped to play an active role in the future development of their country.

2. To produce men of honesty, integrity, and sound judgment: not men of uniform, stereotyped views, but of confident mind, capable of weighing the evidence on any question, and of acting with tolerance toward those of differing outlook; men who will be prudent, balanced, humane leaders in their society.

MR. STEPHEN B. AKABWAY 1976 – 1979

A former eighth Head Teacher of Teso College Aloet, Mr. Stephen Besweri Akabway went to Ngora High School (1955-1957) for junior secondary [education] and Teso College Aloet (1958-1961) for O’ level; and serverd as a head-boy during his last year in TCA. He attended A’ level, in Ntare School (1962-1963) and was a House Captain. He joined University of Dar es Salaam (1964-1967) for Bachelor of Arts; Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Nairobi University (1968-1969); and then for Higher Diploma in Education, University of Edinburgh (1972-1973). He earned a Master of Arts and PhD from Washington University, USA (2001-2006).

He began his career as teacher in Ngora High School (1967-1971), went to National Teachers College Kyambogo as Tutor (1974), and then to Bukedi College Kachonga where he served as Headmaster (1975). A year later, he was transferred on promotion to Teso College Aloet (1976-1979. He was appointed to Senior Inspector, Ministry of Education and Sports (1979-1989); Commissioner, Presidential Commission for Teso (1990-1991); Senior Principal Revenue Officer, Uganda Revenue Authority (1992-93); Constituent Assembly Commissioner (1993-1994); Chairman Interim Electoral Commission (1994-1996) as well as Commissioner Customs (1996-1997), Commissioner Finance (1997), and Deputy Commissioner General (1997-2005), Uganda Revenue Authority.

TELEPHONE INTERVIEW WITH MR. STEPHEN BESWERI AKABWAY ON TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY, 21-22 AUGUST 2012

Martin Okoed (MO): Papa, records indicate that you were a Headteacher of Teso College Aloet from 1976 to 1979. Can you please tell me your biography, education background and civil service experience in brief?

Stephen Besweri Akabway (SBA): I turned seventy one last Monday August 20, 2012… [When you do your calculation, you’ll find that] I was born in 1941 during World War II… I went to Ngora High School (1955-1957) for junior secondary [education] and Teso College Aloet (1958-1961) for O’ level; I was head-boy during my last year there. For A’ level, [I was in] Ntare School (1962-1963) where I was a House Captain not Head-boy as some people claim. Thereafter, I joined University of Dar es Salaam (1964-1967) for Bachelor of Arts; Postgraduate Diploma in Education, Nairobi University (1968-1969); and then for Higher Diploma in Education, University of Edinburgh (1972-1973)… I earned a Master of Arts and PhD from Washington University, USA (2001-2006)…

I humbly began as classroom teacher in Ngora High School (1967-1971), went to National Teachers College Kyambogo as Tutor (1974), and then to Bukedi College Kachonga where I served as Headmaster (1975). I do not know how it feels to be a deputy headmaster [laughter]. A year later, I was transferred on promotion to Teso College Aloet (1976-1979) from where I ascended through Senior Inspector, Ministry of Education and Sports (1979-1989); Commissioner, Presidential Commission for Teso (1990-1991); Senior Principal Revenue Officer, Uganda Revenue Authority (1992-93); Constituent Assembly Commissioner (1993-1994); Chairman Interim Electoral Commission (1994-1996) as well as Commissioner Customs (1996-1997), Commissioner Finance (1997), and Deputy Commissioner General (1997-2005), Uganda Revenue Authority.

MO: How did you end up becoming the Headteacher of Teso College?

SBA: I was appointed in 1975 as Headmaster of Bukedi College Kachonga which was an O’ level school; I served there for one year. In the following year, I was transferred to Teso College Aloet on promotion.

MO: What were the challenges which you faced as a former headteacher of TCA?

SBA: First and foremost, the teachers were drunkards. They were not committed …and dealing with them was a thing so difficult…Secondly, the students never took part in cleaning toilets which they used and yet in our time we cleaned our toilets. Students…that time annoyed me very much… And the greatest challenge I faced was the general scarcity of items including food and “sabuni” [soap]. Getting salt, sugar or soap during Amin’s regime was not easy. I spent most of my time looking for such items instead of concentrating on administering the school.

MO: Assume you could be the headteacher of Teso College Aloet the second time around, what would you have done differently or better?

SBA: By and large…there is nothing I would do better than what all the previous headteachers have done well.

MO: What is your advice to the present and future headteachers in TCA?

SBA: They should emulate what [the most recent headteachers] Kad [Oliba], my name-sake [Akabwai] and Silvester [Ocaatum], have done… They should keep improving the students’ discipline, academic performance and school infrastructure. Likewise, they should promote co-curricular activities… In our time I was the Secretary General of the Cooperative Society and we owned a shop which generated income for us…

MO: What is your message to the former and present students of Teso College?

SBA: I urge them strongly to revive the Old Boys’ Association and take part in the development of the school. Other schools are far better because old students have taken part in their development. [As a matter of fact]…the headteacher alone cannot really do much without the support of those who once studied in Teso College Aloet. I pray that they [old students] take this seriously.

MO: Your last word, please.

SBA: As a teacher, I have been studying all along…People should remain studious till the day of their death.

MR. JAMES ILAKUT AKABWAI 2002 – 2009

A former Head Teacher of Teso College Aloet, Mr. Akabwai James Ilakut began his career as a Geography Teacher at Kololo Secondary School in Kampala. Prior to this, he received his degrees, a Master’s of Education and a BA (Hons) respectively, from the Makerere University. Between 1976 and 2001, Mr. Ilakut served at various schools as Assistant Registrar and Deputy Director. His experience includes eight stints on the Board of Governors and most currently Chairman of the Education Service Commission in Kumi District. Mr. Ilakut joined Teso in 2002 as a Head Teacher and served seven years in the aftermath of the Lord’s Resistance Army’s invasion of school property. He aided the restoration of the school, still reeling from the psychological and emotional effects of the invasion, increasing student enrollment in 2006 from previous levels. Under his leadership, the A – Level science classes also doubled in attendance. Mr. Ilakut’s focus on school improvement continues today. He encourages Teso school staff and Old Boys to work diligently to improve school status and increase academic excellence within the region and in the country.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. AKABWAI JAMES ILAKUT
ON FRIDAY, 13 JULY 2012

You were a former Headteacher of Teso College Aloet, Can you please tell me your biography, education background and civil service experience in brief?

I am Akabwai James Ilakut born on 1st May 1949 to a primary school teacher’s family in Omolokonyo parish in Kumi district. I’m happily married to Jane with whom I have six children.

I am Akabwai James Ilakut born on 1st May 1949 to a primary school teacher’s family in Omolokonyo parish in Kumi district. I’m happily married to Jane with whom I have six children.

Well, I started as Geography Teacher at Kololo SS in Kampala (1973-1976), moved to St. Peter’s College Tororo (1976-1982) and later joined NTC Kyambogo as Senior Assistant Registrar (1982-85) and Deputy Director (1989-93).

When I saw that there was no early possibility of becoming a Director at NTC, I crossed to Kigezi College Butobere (1994-98), Ngora High School (1998-2001) and Teso College Aloet (2002-09) where I worked as Headteacher. I have too served in eight Boards of Governors, and I’m now chairman Education Service Commission at Kumi district.

How did you end up becoming the Headteacher of Teso College?

I was just beginning to stabilize as Headteacher in Ngora High when my predecessor at Teso College was sent on transfer. They looked around for a competent person to replace him (Mr. Kad Oliba) and they zeroed on me. I believe my long chain of experience must have given them the confidence.

What were the challenges which you faced as a former headteacher of TCA?

First, the school had just recovered from insurgency caused by Kony’s LRA rebel invasion and you know what was attributed there. The aftereffects of the insurgency were affecting the school at the time I went there. The parents, teachers, and students were still psychologically stressed. The second one was…the school fee structure; it was very low and difficult to convince parents who said they’re poor to increase the fees.

Thirdly, the general rising costs brought inadequacies, here and there, that needed to be attended and could not be attended to. The other challenge was the big blow caused by the 2003 Kony invasion of Teso; the parents transferred their sons to other schools especially after the killing of TCA’s teacher. The school became depopulated. Rebuilding the school from then was gradual and dealing with low enrolment, low income, and traumatized people was not easy. But the good news is that by 2006, we’d surpassed the previous enrolment.

Assume you could be the headteacher of Teso College Aloet the second time around, what would you have done differently or better?

What I did in that time I can’t improve on it. I doubled the A-level science class intake…It is difficult to handle that one. I don’t think I would have done any better than making the school better known.

What is your advice to the present and future headteachers in TCA?

Just to continue improving the school status both within Teso region and outside, and continue improving the staff morale. They should continue making Teso College a centre of academic excellence within the region and the country. And as a school improves, they, together with teachers, need to be working toward contentment. They shouldn’t live a miserable life and be looked down upon after rendering a good service.

What is your message to the former and present students of Teso College?

They should be proud of their school; contribute toward the growth, development and excellence of their school. My predecessor organized for a OBs’ meeting, it failed. I tried twice, it flopped. The PTA has tried to do something, but OBs have no tangible asset to be proud of. Kings College Budo English language laboratory was put up by one person. That kind of outstanding wonderful contribution is what we need of them. They need to inject in appropriate reasonable input…I’d have loved to see members of Akabway house…to come up and say we’re renovating or constructing a better Akabway.

Your last word, please.

I am proud of the input I made to the school. I left it when it was the school to reckon with. I am happy with my successor; he has even enhanced the school image.