Immaculate Heart Girls School Bids Farewell to Sr. Mary Gladys Kachope, Welcomes Sr. Sabina Tumusiime 

Rukungiri: Immaculate Heart Girls School, Nyakibale, has bid farewell to its former head teacher, Sister Mary Gladys Kachope, after 18 years of dedicated service.

The school also officially welcomed the new head teacher, Sister Sabina Tumusiime, during a colorful ceremony held at the school premises in Eastern Division, Rukungiri Municipality. The event also included celebrations for the school’s outstanding performance in the 2024 UCE and UACE exams. 

In her speech on March 24, the new head teacher, Sr. Sabina Tumusiime, praised Sr. Mary Gladys Kachope for her visionary leadership, which has significantly contributed to the school’s academic excellence. She commended her predecessor for improving school infrastructure, acquiring land for agricultural projects, and ensuring food security through banana plantations and cattle farming.

Sr. Tumusiime described Sr. Kachope as a leader who always aimed for success and reminded the gathering that in 2019, she was recognized as the best head teacher in Africa and later won the award for the best head teacher in the world. She also noted that despite the school’s remarkable achievements, there is still a need for financial support to complete ongoing projects at the school and to construct the administration block

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The vice chairperson of the school’s Board of Governors, Betty Muzanira, who is also the former Woman Member of Parliament for Rukungiri District, thanked parents for entrusting their children to Immaculate Heart Girls School. She encouraged students to focus on their studies and pledged that the Board of Governors would continue to support the new head teacher in her leadership. 

In her farewell speech, Sr. Mary Gladys Kachope was recognized for her efforts in instilling discipline and fostering holistic education at the school. She highlighted some of her key achievements since she became head teacher in 2006, including the construction of a school playground, the establishment of a water harvesting system, and the introduction of Music, Dance, and Drama (MDD) alongside an annual cultural diversity celebration.

She also introduced a sports day, increased the number of teachers from 42 to 102, support staff from 16 to 35, and other employees from 24 to 68. Additionally, she spearheaded the expansion of school infrastructure by adding more classroom blocks, staff residences, and a chapel, as well as purchasing a school bus in 2010. 

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The Commissioner for Government Secondary Education at the Ministry of Education and Sports, Muzoora Atuheire Juliet, commended Sr. Kachope for her contributions to improving school infrastructure, increasing student enrollment, and maintaining academic excellence. She encouraged Sr. Sabina Tumusiime to continue building on her predecessor’s legacy and praised the school’s foundation body for ensuring a smooth transition in leadership. 

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Sr. Kachope, who assumed leadership at Immaculate Heart Girls School on February 8, 2006, retired in December 2024 and now serves as the headteacher of Boni Consilii Girls’ Vocational Secondary School in Isingiro District. 

During the event, the school also awarded prizes to the best-performing UCE and UACE candidates of 2024 in recognition of their outstanding results. Immaculate Heart Girls School was ranked 11th nationally in the 2024 UACE examinations.