Salaama Kwagala is the director of two schools; a primary and secondary one, as well as a health centre. But her climb to the top was not rosy.
Salaama Kwagala is the director of two schools; a primary and secondary one, as well as a health centre. But her climb to the top was not rosy.
Born in 1979 in a family of nine children, Kwagala went to Nganwa Junior and later Nganwa High School in Sheema district. Tragedy struck after completing her Senior Four when her parents passed on. Much as her future seemed bleak, Kwagala was determined to succeed no matter the cost. This is when she opted to teach to earn a living.
“Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.”
Although Kwagala was not qualified, she started teaching in primary schools, on contract basis in 1985. With her savings, she put teaching on hold and joined Bushenyi Core Primary Teachers College in 1997.
After obtaining her certificate, Kwagala returned to teaching. However, being a primary school teacher, she found it hard to find a well-paying job. She once had a job where she was paid sh500 a day.
Founding Royal College Schools
Years later, Kwagala got married and with her husband’s help, she bought a piece of land in Namugongo, a city suburb. She started making bricks, which she used to sell to support her siblings, who were still in school. She also continued teaching in several schools, on a temporary basis.
Kwagala later went back to A’level, got a Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education and joined the university to pursue a degree in education in 2000.
After graduation, Kwagala and her husband started a secondary school — Royal College Namugongo in Misindye village, Wakiso district in 2006. Built using mud and bricks made by the couple, the school started with 23 students. Most of the pioneer students were Kwagala and her husband’s relatives, who could not afford fees in other schools.
Kwagala later stopped teaching in other schools and concentrated on her school. She also started selling stationery in several other schools in the neighborhood to boost her earnings.
As the school’s population increased, she bought more land, put up more buildings and hired more staff.
On top of fees collections, Kwalaga’s husband, a government official, would also use part of his salary to pay the teachers.
Today, Royal College has about 600 students. It is now a fully-fledged school with storeyed buildings that house a multi-purpose hall, dormitories, laboratories, classroom blocks and a library.
“It is a dream come true. It is a true reflection of what can be achieved when teachers pay attention to their small projects. I did not need millions to start achieving my dream,” Kwagala says.
Primary School
In 2011, Kwagala realised that most of the students who were joining her school had not attained a good foundation in primary education.
“I sold my idea of starting a primary school to my husband and he embraced it,” she says.
Months later, Kwagala started Royal Junior Academy, which has nursery and primary sections, as well as a day care centre.
The junior school now has over 400 pupils.
Jackson Kushaba, a parent, says his son used to study at a distant school because there were no schools in Misindye village.
“Now that he is at Royal Junior Academy, I can visit him any time because the school is near my home.”
“Kwagala always consults parents on what they think needs to be improved in the school. She is the owner of the school, but works harder than some of her employees,” Kushaba adds
Health Centre
Kwagala realised the area had no clinic and when a child fell sick, it would take them a long time to get to the nearby hospital. She started Royal Health Centre, which is run by health personnel. The medical centre was meant to serve the two schools, but with time, it was opened to the community since there were no other clinics in the area. CHALLENGES Kwagala says it is not easy to juggle teaching and administrative work of the schools and health centre.
“When you start a business and you are not on the ground, you are destined to fail. This is why I am always at the station.”
she explains. She also runs the school farm.
Kwagala wants to raise the schools to international standards. “We also want to start a university because we have over 32 acres of land.”
She also plans to expand the health centre.
Kwagala advises teachers to plan for their money.
“Do not spend all their money expecting a salary the following month.”
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