Ihungo Secondary School 2016 Memorial: Ihungo Secondary School

Originally known as St. Thomas More College, Ihungo Secondary in Bukoba on the shore of Lake Victoria in northwest Tanzania has played a tremendous role in the Tanzania education system. It was built and operated by the Catholic Church and as one of the pictures show it was in operation as early as 1929. After the independence of Tanganyika and later creation of the United Republic of Tanzania, the Government of Tanzania nationalized St. Thomas More College together with other schools operated by different religious groups, making it a public school.

As one of the earliest schools in the West Lake Region (renamed Kagera Region in 1981 after the war between Tanzania and Uganda), Ihungo Secondary School cultivated among its alumni academic excellence, spirituality, citizenship and professionalism at the time when public education was still valued in Tanzania. Many accomplished men in Tanzanian politics, academics, business, various professions and religious institutions owe their initiation to Ihungo Secondary School.

Building on the spirit and zeal of Catholic missionaries to blend academic excellence with the obligation of a person to build and shape a society in which he lives, Ihungo sought to maintain these values among its alumni even after it became a public school. Even in post-independence secular system, Ihungo Secondary School maintained a high degree of striving for academic excellence, fairness, inclusiveness, religious faiths, community spirit among students and staffs of different ethnic background and religious creed, and excellence in sports. Ihungo was admired in Kagera Region and beyond as a school where the best go and Ihungo students strived to willingly uphold these values and expectations.

On September 10, 2016, a rare earthquake occurred in East Africa in the region extending from southern Uganda to Mwanza, Tanzania, and parts of Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The greatest impact was in the Bukoba area which was closest to the epicentre; this area sustained the greatest damage. With aging buildings which were originally not built to withstand earthquakes, Ihungo Secondary School was badly damaged. The school has since been rebuilt changing the structure and appearance of the old school. This blog is an archive of the old Ihungo Secondary School as it was before to the earthquake. The pictures marked DR were taken on July 10^th, 2016 by Dr. Deogratias Rweyongeza (Canada), an alumnus of Ihungo Secondary School (1981-1984). Alumni, families and friends of Ihungo with pictures and memories of St. Thomas More College and Ihungo Secondary School are welcome to submit more pictures and articles for the blog and will be acknowledged by inserting initials on their pictures.

DR: Administration building showing names of past Headmasters from 1929

DR: Administration and teachers office with library and classrooms on the background.

DR: Catholic Church with the library and classrooms on the background.

DR: Front view of the Catholic Church at the centre of the campus.

DR: Side view of the Catholic Church as seen from the administration building.

DR: Rear view of the Catholic Church with laboratories seen far in the background.

DR: Residence of the Catholic priests & Catholic Chaplaincy for Bukoba secondary schools.

DR: This classroom block was added much later. Library and old classrooms are seen in the background.

DR: This high school block of classrooms was built in the early 1960s.

DR: Classrooms and laboratories on the background.

DR: Library.

DR: Old classrooms that were on longer in use due to age.

DR: Clockwise, these are hostels named after mountains Rwenzori, Kenya, and Elgon.

DR: From left to right, Elgon and Kilimanjaro (hostels); Assembly Hall; Meru and Uluguru (hostels). Hostels are named after respective mountains.

DR: From left to right: Assembly Hall; Meru and Uluguru (hostels). Hostels are named after respective mountains.

DR: Uluguru hostels and Catholic priests residence (a side view).

DR: Cafeteria building (Refectory).

DR: Water supply.

DR: Equipment storage building and truck shade (was known as Kilimo).

Ihungo Secondary School Class of 1984

DR: Banana garden behind the Headmaster's residence.

THE NEW IHUNGO SECONDARY SCHOOL AFTER THE EARTHQUAKE

Pictures of the new buildings have been added here after visiting the campus in May 2019 and talked to students who were all new and did not recognize the former school when I showed them this blog.