St Henry’s College Kitovu – The Emerging Force in Secondary Schools Football

Kitovu will feature at the East Africa schools Championship for the first time in Kigali along with Kibuli, Kitende and Royal Giant.

For the 101 years of existance, St Henry’s College Kitovu has been well know for their excellent academic performance and little the school had achieved in the game of football at a national and international level.

Of late, the Masaka based College, one of the Elite schools in the country, embarked on a project that would see the school take their  success from class to the playground as well.

Kitovu, yet to win their first national schools championship, but it’s easy to notice that bigger strides have been made towards that direction by the school administration led by Brother Augustine Mugabo.

The College, has featured for the third consecutive national schools’ (USSSA) Championship and this year, put up the best performance ever – managed to reach their first ever final and qualifying for the East Africa Secondary Schools championship that will be held in Kigali, Rwanda this year.

Kitovu lost 2-0 to the same opponent in 2019 they lost to this year Kitende (1-0) at Nyakasura in Fortportal.

Last year in Arua, Kitovu lost 2-0 to Travis Mutyaba’s St Andrews Gombe High School at the round of 16 stage.

The White Fathers founded school, wrote history at the Championship this year when they defeated record holders St Mary’s Kitende in normal time in the group A clash, something that had last happened in 2009 that’s almost 14 years ago.

Despite loosing the final to record winners Kitende, Kitovu won many hearts of Fortportal dwellers for their discpline on the pitch, excellent football they displayed through out the tournament

This site took an extra mile to find out the nitty-gritty behind this success. And would love to discuss some facts that has brought Kitovu to the same stage to effectively compete with the big boys in the competition that include; Kitende, Kibuli SS, Buddo SS and others.

Brother Augustine Mugabo – Vision bearer.

The man who first had a dream as an individual and has built a team that has worked hard and are still doing the work inspite of the challenges but surely, the team has made a big difference so far with a commendable job.

The College head teacher who also doubles as the Chairman Association of Secondary Schools headteachers of Uganda (ASSHU), is a man who loves Sports and started this project a few years ago. He has built structures; Employed qualified coaching staff, recruitment team, has offered bursaries to talented players and others.

Well structured and experienced Coaching Staff.

The school is equiped with full coaching staff, they have got Mr Kasenkende Fred as team Head coach, Mr Musoni as First Assistant ,Bugembe Ashadu as second (2nd) assistant coach and Mr Komaketch who is in charge of conditioning.

Despite loosing the final, Coach Kasekende was impressed with his boys’ peformance speaking to this site. “Am happy with the boys, though we wanted to win the championship but the boys did their best, we have built this team for three years so we believe it’s a strong side that will compete effectively in East Africa games.”

Scouting & Recruitment department.

Kitovu joined other big boys; Kitende, Buddo SS, Kibuli and a few others that have got scouts that do the technical work to bring in players of the required quality to be on top.

Jeff Ssekabira alias Big Jeff and Gonzaga Sentongo are the two gettlemen that brother Mugabo Augustine as the foreseer brought on board to do the job.

The scouting team contributes 70 percent on the performance of the project according to one of the insiders

Scout Ssekabira speaking about the project stated;  ” The mission of taking St Henry’s Kitovu where it is now started long time when brother contacted me and we have done alot as technical team so that we can peform as we are required. So we went to Fortportal to perform, display good football and with discipline. Because this what brother Mugabo requires us to do.”

” After loosing the final, brother appreciated the effort of the team, but still when we were setting our targets, he still believes Kitovu has to win the title. And still it’s not only about winning according to brother Mugabo, but peformance of the highest order with good display and with discipline. He will always tell us to recruit a player who is disciplined and will fit in the school’s culture.”

School Culture.

No doubt the team played the best football in the tournament, they played free-flowing Football and with speed upfront. Just like Ssekabira stated it’s not all about winning for them but also good display with discpline, I personally witnessed.

Team Composition

The quality of the different players in the Kitovu team could effectively compete with all the big boys in the tournament.

Marvin Ssebirago -GK

Performed so well through out the year, only conceded a single goal from the primaries upto the region.

Ocatre Collins

Very impressive, infact one the best right backs among Under 20 players in the country.

Hamis Bwanga & Mutesiga Ronald (Cure)

Bwanga courted by may top tier clubs didnot play at nationals but was instrumental figure in the qualifiers, but his replacements didn’t disappoint, infact Mutesiga made my best XI of the tournament at left back.

Emma Tumusiime
Another experienced player and a key figure that was missed in central defence. He was also not cleared in time.

Walakira Lawrence

Entertaining winger, he was impressive scored important goals in the qualifiers and the nationals.

Midfield- Kisoro Innocent & Godfrey Ssekibengo

Team captain Kisoro, does the donkey work, shielded the backline so well made the interceptions, they partnered so well with the team’s star man Ssekibengo who was the master mind of proceeding through out the tournament.

Forwards- Reagan Sekisambu & Walakira Lawrence

The quality and combination upfront between the two young stars, shared 11 goals between themselves, 6 for Walakira and 5 for Sekisambu.

Dramuke Dennis and Enjoy Alfred

The other two options for Coach Kasekende upfront.

A Brief about St Henry College Kitovu

St. Henry’s College Kitovu is a boys boarding government-aided secondary school that was founded by the White Fathers in 1922. It is located in Masaka District, 120 kms from Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. The College is located 4 kms from Masaka Town and 2 kms from the Nyendo surbub atop the Kitovu Hill near the Roman Catholics Cathedral in Kitovu. The main school campus covers a large expanse of land. In the same vicinity are a number of institutions such as the Kitovu Hospital and Masaka Diocesan Development Organisation (MADDO). The School has a population of over 1000 students.

In September 1922,
a Canadian missionary, a disciple of Cardinal Lavigerie, Fr. Adrian Laberge of the White Fathers, founded the school of Kitovu with some pupils from the Lubaga School which was also under the direction of the White Fathers.The beginning was of the bare necessities; three simple buildings of sun-dried bricks served as classrooms and dormitories. The new installation was blessed by His Lordship Bishop Henry Streicher, and it was placed under the protection of St. Henry, patron of the Vicar Apostolic of Uganda.

Aim

The ultimate aim of St. Henry’s College Kitovu is the evangelization through holistic education to the youth.

Vision of the College:

“Continuous improvement and endless search for knowledge”

Mission Statement of the College:

“To produce self reliant and acceptable citizens who are well formed in character and knowledge acquisition.”

SCHOOL MOTTO:

For Greater Horizons