The community of Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale in Rukungiri district gathered to bid farewell to Sr. Mary Gladys Kachope Amooti who has served as its head teacher since 2006. The function took place in the school campus on Sunday, March 23, 2025 preceded by sacrifice of Mass presided over by Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General of Kabale Diocese.
In his homily, Msgr. John Vianney Sunday said they had gathered to thank God for special gifts he had endowed to Immaculate Heart and to thank Sr. Gladys Kachope who has served this institution whole heartedly for a long time, that God continues to bless her. He also said they were praying for the new headteacher in order to take on her leadership role with God’s blessings and intervention.
Sr. Sabina Tumusiime, new head teacher Immaculate Heart thanked God for the opportunity granted to her so serve the mighty school. She said this day was prepared to celebrate the remember the tremendous achieved God had done through Sr. Gladys Kachope including 2024 UCE and UACE results. She said the school was started in 1969 by Bishop Gervase Nkakanga offer affordable but quality education to the girl child and has produced great women of substance.
She applauded her predecessor, Sr. Kachope for being a visionary and outstanding leader with many achievements registered including excellent school’s performance in UCE and UACE year after year, improved school’s infrastructure, purchase of a lot of land and all the food consumed by students is grown on school land.
Sr. Sabina paid tribute to the former Head Teachers of Immaculate Heart Girls’ whose leadership, vision, and dedication have laid a strong foundation for the school’s success since its inception in 1969. These include Sisters. Louise and Magdalene (twin sisters) who were Pioneer Head Teachers and Co Foundresses, Sr. Ghisilline (RIP) (1969-1974) Sr. Leonidas (1976-1982), Sr. Veneranda Tibikimpenda (1982-1988), Sr. Rosemary (1988-1994), Sr. Margaret Magoba (1994-2001), Sr. Petronilla (RIP) (2001-2005) and Sr. Gladys Kachope (2006-2024).
On a special note, Sr. Sabina congratulated the pioneer candidates of the competent based curriculum, who excelled UCE 2024 exams thereby making Immaculate Heart Girls’ School to scoop the 11th position in the whole country and for UACE 2024, the best student with 19 points.
She appreciated Msgr. John Vianney Sunday, Vicar General of Kabale Diocese for gracing the function and representing the Diocese. She thanked the foundation body for establishing Immaculate Heart, the Board of Governors, PTA, staff, parents and all stakeholders for supporting Immaculate Heart to move to greater heights. She pledged total cooperation and called for support so that Immaculate Heart continues to be an icon rhyming with its motto excelsior.
Sr. Sabina encouraged students to continue having an outstanding discipline, academics and moral standards that are admired by others.
Here at Immaculate Heart, academics and discipline are inseparable and we aim higher – Sr. Sabina Tumusiime, head teacher.
Students’ body of Immaculate Heart represented by the Head girl thanked Sr. Gladys Kachope for her selfless service to and mentorship to them. They testified how she served as a mother, a mentor, teacher, friend and a leader who did it all in her terms of office. They welcomed new head teacher, Sr. Sabina Tumusiime and promised to cooperate with her to take Immaculate Heart Girls’ Nyakibale to greater heights.
Mr. Joseph Nimalema from Moroto district and one of the parents with a daughter at Immaculate Heart thanked Sr. Kachope for the many achievements she had won for the school and for Kabale Diocese in general. He said as parents they wish her good health and promised total support to the new head teacher so that the success is registered always.
Sr. Kachope taught our children to be God fearing. She taught them to be responsible, a mother who emphasized dress code. She is a performer, an academic excellency – Mr. Joseph Nimalema.
Hon. Betty Bamukwasa Muzanira, vice chairperson Board of Governors for Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale congratulated Sr. Gladys Kachope for executing her duties diligently till the end. She appreciated her selfless service and dedication to Immaculate Heart. Hon.muzanira thanked parents for supporting Sr. Kachope in paying school feels in time so that school programs run smoothly. The Board of Governors also welcomed Sr. Sabina Tumusiime, the new head teacher and pledged the necessary support for the school to continue shining. The board rewarded the family of Sr. Kachope with a heifer and a brand new Land cruiser registration number UBS 813H with its fuel for two years.
In her remarks, Sr. Gladys Kachope thanked God for enabling her reach her term of office and making a formal hand over. She thanked the congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Good Council for entrusting her with leadership role to head Immaculate Heart Girls’ School Nyakibale which she faithfully held for a period of 18 years and registered many successes in all spheres.
Today I am handing over a very disciplined school which is used to negotiations and I encourage the students not to break the culture – Sr. Gladys Kachope.
She expressed gratitude to the administration which she has worked with to register all the achievements and was proud to leave Immaculate Heart better than she found it, hence taking on a new role as head teacher of Boni Consili Girls’ School Kyabirukwa in Isingiro district. She called on students and administration to cooperate with Sr. Sabina the way they were cooperating with her.
In her remarks as chief guest, Mrs. Juliet Muzoora, the Commissioner for Secondary School Education in the Ministry of Education and Sports thanked Sr. Kachope for exceptional leadership skills. She commended the foundation body for the mentorship and ensuring proper succession. She talked about Kachope as a resilient woman, who always wants things accomplished and register positive results. She thanked her for the silent life lessons she passed on to the girl child with proper teaching and learning which has been exhibited in the great performance of the institution.