Founded in 1962

St Michael’s is a girls’ primary school located in a rural village with very limited infrastructure, almost no employment opportunities and a community that works the land and lives hand-to-mouth.

The village is called Namunyumya is approx 90 miles east of Kampala, a journey that can take up to five hours on Ugandan roads..

The school plays a vital role in the community and achieves excellent examination results but without state funding it needs help to thrive and develop.

The school was founded in 1962 by the Mill Hill Fathers under the leadership of Sister Mary John of the Order of the Little Sisters of St. Francis. The Headmistress and her predecessors have all belonged to community of the LSOSF - a Franciscan Order.

Limited Government support

The school became Government-aided in 1967. However, the grant for resources and textbooks from the government is very limited – approximately £1 per child per annum resulting in a lack of the most basic essentials and low staffing levels. Most schools are compelled to charge a small fee (£10-£30 per year) for each pupil to help contribute towards the running costs.

Primary schooling is between 4 years and 11 years of age with National Exams determining whether a child can progress to secondary school. However, this is where education finishes for many Ugandan children, who then usually follow their parents and work small patches of land to grow food to eat and trade.

St Michael’s is more than a school, it’s home

St. Michael’s welcomes all girls irrespective of religion or tribe. At any one time there are about 650 pupils across the nursery and primary school. Some are orphans who have been given food and shelter by the school. About 250 of the girls will be boarders, this is important in the final years of school to ensure education is uninterrupted as the girls study for national exams. It also means less travelling, greater levels of safety and regular food.

Uganda’s population is projected to double to 90 million by 2050. Educated girls in Uganda have, on average, 2.9 children as opposed to 6.5 children born to uneducated girls. So supporting and encouraging the education of girls is vital for the sustainability of the country.

The commitment of Friend’s of St. Michael’s is to continue to support this remarkable school where happiness, joy and love do co-exist with extreme poverty and deprivation.

Education is the key for these girls to unlock their potential and to help build a thriving Uganda.