Col Emmy Katabazi, the Deputy Director General of the Internal Security Organization (ISO), has hailed the fallen comrades who were Old Boys (OBs) of St. Paul’s Seminary-Rushoroza in Kabale district, that joined him in the struggle to defend the country. He asked the students to maintain discipline and be hardworking in order to be good citizens of Uganda.

Col Katabazi paid tribute to the demised OBs as a way of respecting and commending their contribution to the country.

The Colonel quoted the letter of St. Paul to the Romans 10:14-15, which says, How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

“Don’t think about anything else; you came here to become a priest. But where you fail, you become a good citizen,” Col Katabazi noted.

He encouraged the students to be disciplined and intelligent in order to have a good reputation and representation.

“If you are advised to try elsewhere and you think you are disciplined, we shall welcome you,” the Colonel said.

Col Katabazi urged the continuing students to work hard, citing his own example and a few colleagues who are who they are due to their hard work and not technical know-who.

He promised to continue supporting the school, especially in the field of Information Technology (IT).

St. Paul’s Seminary, which has an enrollment of over 430 students, was celebrating St. Paul’s Day and fundraising for the construction of a two-Storeyed building, which will house the administration block, UNEB examination halls for both O and A-level, and a science laboratory that amounts to over Ugx 1.5 billion.

The function began with the mass, which was led by Rt. Rev. Callist Rubaramira, the Bishop of Kabala Diocese, and presided over by the Minister of State for Finance, Planning, and Economic Development (General Duties), Henry Ariganyira Musasizi, on June 29, 2024.

Col Katabazi made a tremendous contribution for his friends, who are also his Old Boys (OBs), towards the construction works.

Minister Musasizi encouraged the audience to promote President Museveni’s message of economic transformation to alleviate poverty through government programs like PDM and Emyooga, among others.

He re-echoed Col Katabazi’s message that the principle aim of the students is to become priests.

The minister thanked the school leadership for the human and spiritual formation that they are instilling in the students and training them to become priests.

He contributed Ugx 30 million with Ugx 10 million in cash. The fundraising raised over Ugx 97 million in cash.

Bishop Rubaramira, urged the students to have good values and adhere to them, which will help them in their day to day life.

“Like Col Katabazi said earlier, have good values, they will help you in your academic pursuit and your day today life,” the Bishop said.

Fr. Augustine Tumusiime, the Rector, commended the Old Boys for supporting the school and always meeting the continuing students to encourage them about the values they got from the seminary.

He said that they plan to improve the computer laboratory by adding more computers and installing the internet.

“We would like to continue the program of renovating our buildings, which have been around for over 50 years, because a snitch in time saves a ninth. We would like to embark on this project of storeyed building to improve the standards of the seminary, ease our work during UNEB examinations, give priority to the sciences, and give enough working space for our staff in formulation,” Fr. Tumusiime said.

Titus Niwamanya, who represented the SPOBA President, said that they decided to give back to the school because of the values and skills they obtained from it.

“We are who we are because of the discipline and Christian values that were instilled in us,” he noted.

He added that SPOBA is an international association with several chapters and sub-chapters in Uganda and across borders, citing projects including funeral services, SACCO, and others.

Other dignitaries that honored the function are the Ndorwa East Member of Parliament, Wilfred Niwagaba; Prossy Akampurira, the Woman MP for Rubanda district (Commissioner of Parliament); Catherine Atwakiire Ndamira, the Woman MP for Kabale district; MP Tadius Kama, the MP for Kabale district; Mitooma Deputy RDC, Godfrey Nyakahuma; Police officers; DHO for Rubanda; Headteachers from other schools within Kabale, Rubanda, and Kisoro districts; several university leaders; President of SPOBA, Counsel Jude Byamukama, represented by Titus Niwamanya, among others.