Kafumbe: The man taking Seeta high schools higher

“No matter where you are, develop yourself patiently and consistently as you exploit challenges and find solutions to what others cannot. This will better your standing and keep you at the top,” says Davis Kafumbe Mukasa, the principal Seeta High institutions.
It is through working out challenges that Kafumbe has managed to become successful in the education system. When he joined Uganda Martyrs SS, Namugongo for his last school practice in 1998, Kafumbe was retained. This was to become the start of his education career.
And he hit the ground running! His attitude while handling students created a big difference in the behaviour of the students at the school. This caught the attention of the administration hence earning him a position of senior man, which he held for three years. It was in this same school where he had displayed leadership skills as a head prefect in A-Level. At only 28, Kafumbe’s ambition led him to Vienna College in Namugongo as acting head teacher from 2001 to 2003.
While still enjoying his stay at Vienna, a call came through to join Seeta High School main campus as the head teacher in December 2003. In fact, the 46-year-old teacher was not only appointed head teacher, but also vice person of the board governing the two-year-old school at the time.
After only a year, in 2004, Kafumbe, a teacher of History and Christian Religious Education (CRE), was confirmed head teacher of the school.
With this success in such a short period, you would imagine teaching was his childhood passion. But you would be further from the truth.
Kafumbe pursued the education course after failing to get points that would enable him pursue law at university.
“I initially wanted to study law but when I failed, I quickly made a decision to pursue education since it was offered on government sponsorship,” he recalls.
Regardless of the status of his students, Kafumbe has never entertained mediocres in as far as academics and discipline are concerned. He would punish students who acted against the rules as a way of streamlining them into responsible citizens.
“Thousands of those I have taught can testify. But over time, I have incorporated more of child study and counselling given how fragile today’s children are,” he notes, adding, “Most of the movies children watch today, propagate love as opposed to years back when it was about caution and punishment.”

Kafumbe the counsellor
Kafumbe has exhibited a high level of expertise in giving career guidance, solving teachers’ problems along students’ social issues. Even better than this, he follows up students to make sure they are fine in all aspects.
In 2014, Kafumbe was transferred to Seeta High School, Mbalala campus after 10 years at the main campus. Here, he taught for four years.
Because of his sociable personality, Kafumbe always shares light moments with his juniors and students making him popular.
And it is this personality that has helped him fit in his role as a strategist for all Seeta high school institutions right from kindergarten, primary to high schools. His role includes inspecting all schools, attending meetings, supervising lessons and attending to parents’ concerns.
“My role now is to grow teachers and ensure all schools are up to standard. During inspection, I supervise teachers which at times requires me to sit in classes during a lesson,” he says.

Achievements
At Uganda Martyrs SS, Kafumbe believes he was the best senior man they have ever had. The school entrusted him with the position at only 25 but he used it to set the pace in smartness, organisation, confidence and discipline.
While at Vienna College, as acting head teacher, he says despite how all round students were, he made them understand the value of being focused and disciplined. Being able to deal with issues of drugs and fights among the students was also a big achievement. He also introduced sports in the school which increased his popularity.
Kafumbe strongly believes it is because of his continuous efforts and hard work that Seeta High Schools are exhibiting good results though more is yet to come.
“What I did was to set the system right. At one time, I managed the main and Mbalala campuses. It was after parents gained confidence in the school that the new campus got a head teacher,” he reveals happily.
Along with what he calls a special team of teachers, he has been able to build the brand Seeta High schools that many are proud of today.
“I have groomed so many head teachers some still with the institutions,” he says.
Seeing the fruits of his hard work such as developments and successful students gives Kafumbe satisfaction and more reason to invest his knowledge and skills.

Challenges
While talking about the challenges that have befallen him during his time as a head teacher, Kafumbe highlights disappointing student performances and arrogance of parents, among others.
“I can never forget a time when my top most student failed to perform to my expectations during UNEB exams. I was disappointed that he scored a C4 instead of a D1. It is the reason I decided to become an examiner with Uneb though I quit after a short period,” he discloses. But that stint made him understand that not everybody that is good at academics excels in a national exam. Outright disobedience of students is another challenge he will always remember, especially by students from influential families. This affected him but he had to always let go.
About his relationship with parents, Kafumbe says, “Most parents are very arrogant. In 2005, a parent told me that we should pay his son’s school fees because he had scored Aggregate Six and lifted the school flag high,” he recalls.
But as a professional teacher, Kafumbe always exercises professionalism by remaining calm. This has won him a good reputation and relationship with many people he interacts with.
In future, Kafumbe who also runs a consultancy now, he plans to retire into farming and real estate. He vows to devote more time to his family more than ever before because seeing his family happy brings him joy.

Education
Davis Kafumbe Mukasa started his education in the 1980s at a European nursery school that used to be located near clock tower in Kampala but completed his primary school from Nakasero primary school in 1988. He joined St Joseph’s Nagalama in 1989 for O-Level and completed A-Level from Uganda Martyrs’ SS Namugongo in 1994. In 1995, Kafumbe joined Makerere University and pursued a Bachelor’s in Education for three years. To widen the scope of his knowledge, after his graduation in 1999, Kafumbe pursued a Master of Arts in Social Sciences from 2001 to 2003.

“Kafumbe would crack jokes with students and have a great time when it is time for that and when it comes to achieving set objectives, you had better mean business or you will get on the wrong side of him. I am inspired by his determination and career journey.”
Flora Aduk, former student

“He is an educationist who does not entertain mediocrity. His only friendly workmates are those that embrace excellence in academics. He is an exceptional time manager who also believes in team work.”
Ivan Mitara, teacher

“He is a God-fearing and hardworking professional. While at Uganda Martyrs Namugongo SS, Kafumbe who was our head boy then has lived out the character and doctrines that were taught such as leadership, obedience to authority, prayerfulness, and self-control.”
Henry Mukasa