A huge graduation party was thrown at Suubi Secondary & Vocational College today to honour our very own Ssemwogerere David, who recently graduated from his Masters in Rural Development. More than a 1000 people from the local community, district level, Kampala and across country, all gathered in Lubanda Village to heap praise on David for everything he has been able to achieve in his life. This of course meant all of these people were able to see first hand the wonderful new facilities at Suubi Seconday & Vocational College; the latest addition to the Suubi Centre Project which David first established in 2008.
The logistics of organising and event of this size were enormous but two very committed groups of organisers (one in Lubanda and one in Kampala) worked tirelessly in the lead up to the event to make sure the day would be a fitting celebration for David; their hard working friend, uni mate, mentor, colleague and Suubi family member. David has certainly touched many lives in a positive way and the graduation party was a way for EVERYONE to say thank you!
In true Ugandan style, everything needed for the party came from contributions made by the people who would attend; from financial contributions through to donations of matooke or sticks of firewood - everyone gave something, depending on what they could afford.
Friday saw a swarm of people descend on the school site as tents and PA systems were set up in readiness for the party.
Mountains of matooke was peeled by the ladies to make sure their would be enough food for everyone to enjoy the following day.
For the very first group of SSVC senior one students, who only recently commenced classes in February, the graduation party will surely be something they will remember forever. They certainly looked the part on the day, in their newly made uniforms that the Suubi sewing groups had worked around the clock to have completed in readiness for the day.
A class photo with Ssemwogerere David and Helen Brown from HUG, on the morning of the graduation party, saw all of the inaugural class looking fabulous; all kitted out in their newly made school uniforms.
The actual days event began with a service to bless the new school buildings. This also presented an opportunity for the Father to explain to the students, and all those who had gathered, about how the home based chicken project, which the school has initiated, will help students and their families raise money to cover their school fees.
David's close friends Moses and Jimmy were happy to be along side him during the service and hear more about the how the SSVC home base project will help the students and their families.
Once each of the classrooms and offices had been officially blessed everyone gathered for different group photos with David to make sure they would all have a lasting memory with the inspirational man who had truly bought rural development to Lubanda Village.
Madelana, David's mum, was joined by other family members - they were all unbelievably proud of what David has done to help so many people.
Staff members and Suubi ladies were happy to see David being recognised for the great work he has done across the many components that now makes up Suubi; education, health and livelihood projects.
The first group of SSVC students certainly have a wonderful role model in David. To know that he has come from the same village as they do, and has been able achieve so much in his life, is something they can aim to emulate in the future.
Once the guests of honour arrived the entertainment and official speeches got underway. In the lead up to the party the SSVC students had practised long and hard to make sure the two songs that Mr Robert (the head master) had specifically written for the event would be just perfect. Everyone in the crowd thoroughly enjoyed their performance and many commented what a wonderful message they were sending to everyone in the audience.
Hon. Ssendaula Gerald (former finance Minister), Hon.Mbabaali Muyanja, Governor Mutabaazi George, Governor Hajji Abdu Kiyimba, Hon .Sarah Nkonge, and Cissy Namujju formed the official party.
The SSVC students were an important part of the entertainment for the day and were certainly not over whelmed by preforming in front of official guests and more than 1000 people.
The Suubi ladies group also impressed everyone with their energetic traditional dancing.
David's Mum, Madelena, told the crowd of how she had always supported David to follow his dream of a good education, even selling her only sewing machine and land to be able to afford to pay his school fees. Many people doubted her at the time but now she is rightly very proud of the fact that he has gone on to help so many people.
Helen Brown from HUG, praised David's ability to make 'REAL' change in the village rather being content just to have learnt about rural development theoretically at the university. She proudly represented the many, many international friends he has made along the way and passed on their love and congratulations.
With speeches complete it was time for gifts to be given and the dancing to begin. Once again people bought gifts they could afford; some came with woven mats, cups, flasks, clocks, cash or even livestock like the goats that the Suubi ladies group had bought!
With David having done so much for them, the Suubi ladies group combined to show their gratitude by presenting him with a goat.
David and his partner Hellen happily excepted all sorts of gifts from family, friends and community groups.
Another exciting thing to happen on the day was a gift that was given to the school from a very prominent business man. He provided two full woodwork kits and a electric sewing machine and knitting machine. He had been impressed by what had been achieved at SSVC to date and is keen for the students to have the necessary equipment needed to begin some of the vocational subjects to be taught. It is wonderful to see local support like this increasing as people see for themselves what a positive impact Suubi continues to have on the community.
The sewing machine, knitting machine and tools were gratefully excepted and will be put to great use at SSVC.
So as you can see, David's graduation party was indeed a great event. A fabulous way to thank and recognise him for everything he has achieved to date and also a wonderful way to showcase Suubi Secondary & Vocational College. It is exciting to think what else may lay ahead for our inspirational friend, Ssemwogerere David and the Suubi community!
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