Historical Background
Uganda YMCA Jinja was established in April, 1963, is one of the branches of Uganda YMCA with headquarters in Wandegeya Kampala. YMCA stands for Young Men’s Christian Association.
The program to open up Uganda YMCA Jinja Branch in Jinja was initiated by Mr. Yokano Kaira Lubogo in September 1962 where by a total of 55 members sat and agreed to form the YMCA Jinja Branch. The Branch Committee in effect worked hard resulting into the recruitment of 603 members by February 1963.
The first Board of Directors was elected in 1963. Jinja Branch was the first and is the oldest Branch of Uganda YMCA.
In August 1963, plans were developed for YMCA building in Jinja and Kampala. Top leaders in the country including the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, Sir Udo Udoma (RIP), minister for external affairs, honorable Sam Ngunde Odaka and many Ugandans took responsibilities in active leadership to raise resources (funds) for the building.
Subsequently, the Uganda YMCA Headquarters in Kampala and the program unit building in Jinja were constructed. The foundation stone was laid by the then prime minister of Uganda. Dr. Apollo Milton Obote on 29th Jan 1966.
Besides the military coup, the political climate remained unstable and most, if not all the games facilities, recreational facilities were looted and others vandalized during the 1981-1986 civil wars. These affected the provision of service to the youth in form of recreational activities as it used to.
Likewise, during the military regime, the government took over the program unit building in Jinja where vocational training was taking place. This building is presently hosting MUBS Jinja Campus.
On 18th November 1995, the program unit building in Jinja was returned back to the National council of Uganda YMCA, thus providing conducive environment for the smooth running of YMCA program up to date.
Historical Figures since 1959
Mr. Yokana Lubogo was born to Mr. Mukunya Zibondo of Bulamogi in Kaliro District.
He started formal education from CMS, thereafter, he joined Namirembe from 1912 – 1913 and he also studied from King’s College Budo in 1915 – 1917.
Working Experience
He began teaching in day school in Kamuli District in 1914. In May 1917, he joined Native Medical Corps where he was taken to fight on behalf of the colonial masters in the First World War (1914 – 1918) and during this period, Lubogo was promoted to the Rank of Corporal after two years in service.
In February 1919, he became the District Commissioner preferred at Jinja where he served for three years. In 1921, Kaira Lubogo was appointed Gombolola Chief Luuka County in Iganga (now Luuka District). On 4th December 1924, he was made Zibondo (Clan Chief) of Bulamogi replacing Zibondo Y Nyiro who was dismissed.
In March 1928, Yekonia Kaira Lubogo after serving “Bazungu” for a long period of time, Lubogo was given a chance to visit Great Britain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Egypt, and Sudan for exposure tour since he was an interpreter for the whites during that period; he was escorted by Capt. F. Roberts, a Police Superintendent of Jinja Police headquarters. When he returned back from the exposure tour, Lubogo was re-appointed as the Gombolola Chief. While serving as Gombolola Chief, Kaira introduced the idea of tenants paying rent in Busoga. Also as Zibondo of Bulamogi, he instigated the rule that “Every Saza Chief should have a permanent building for offices instead of working in temporary quarters”. Idea initiated by Yekoniya Kaira Lubogo. But, his idea was rejected by the people of Busoga at the first time, but after three years later, the idea was valued and realized by Basoga and the District Commissioner ordered every Chief to have an office and the idea gained popularity in 1928 where permanent office blocks were seen in every Saza office and later, the idea was taken to Gombolola headquarters. Lubogo actively participated in the self governance of Uganda by becoming an active member of Democratic Party. This helped Lubogo to be the first African Mayor of Jinja Municipal Council in 1962 where Benedicto Kiwanuka was the Prime Minister of Uganda from March 1961 to October 8th 1962.
The man and the mystery
Yekoniya K. Lubogo was one of the first leaders to become a National Leader of Uganda YMCA from its inception in 1959. In September 1962 before the independence, he chaired the meeting of a 55 members from Busoga to start YMCA- Jinja Branch which resulted into the election of the first Board of Directors in April 1963. He was unanimously elected as the first Chairman Board of Directors YMCA – Jinja Branch where he used all that was in his powers to acquire land plot 16 / 24 on Nalufenya Road for the construction of office premises.
Yekoniya K Lubogo together with his team ensured that the Land title of plot 16 / 24 was secured on 1st July 1965 for the period of 99 years. He went on to be part of a 37 members team with two other friends from Busoga ie William Balwana Mwangu and Elizephania Kabange Ntende from Bulande, Namutimba District to be part of Uganda YMCA Building Fund Appeal Committee to construct YMCA buildings in Jinja (plot 16 / 24) and Kampala (plot 37 – 41) Bombo Rd respectively. Before the offices were constructed, he used his resources to accommodate YMCA –Jinja Branch on plot 10 Main street Jinja town on Nathwani House to host the First Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Fraternal Secretary Mr. Moses Lewis Perry of YMCA World Services of United States of America (USA) from 1962 together with the first native staff of YMCA – Jinja Branch Mr. Balondemu George William.
The concerted efforts of his team led to the official opening of YMCA – Jinja offices as the first YMCA Branch in Uganda on 29th January 1969. The Prime Minister by then Dr. Apollo Milton Obote was the Chief Guest and the function attended by several dignitaries including chairperson of Uganda YMCA Building Committee Chief Justice Dr. Sir Udo Udoma, Foreign Affairs Minister Sam Ngude Odaka a strong member of YMCA – Jinja Branch and close business associate to Elizephania K Ntende, Mr. E.K. Mulira, Mr. Muthengu, among others.
The visionary leadership of Yekonia Kaira Lubogo made YMCA – Jinja Branch to be the first Branch of Uganda YMCA. A man of primary five drop-out, lived larger-than-life. Those who saw him attest to a magnificent man who lived ahead of his time. One of the very few Ugandans to attain formal education, Lubogo is famed for conceiving the idea to start YMCA, an idea that came to fruition in 1962 which has helped many people in Uganda to survive with empowering young people to be creative thinkers, innovative and as well as lighting their future candles.
Despite his humble background and moderate education, Lubogo became a beneficiary of several awards, including an Honor from Queen Elizabeth II in 1962 in recognition of his role towards improving the lives of fellow citizens (For public services in Uganda).
The Queen’s Birthday Honours 1962 were appointments in many of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The appointments were made “on the occasion of the Celebration of Her Majesty’s Birthday”, and were published in supplements to the London Gazette of 25 May 1962. At this time Honours for Australians were awarded both in the United Kingdom Honours, on the advice of the premiers of Australian states, and also in a separate Australia Honours list. The recipients of Honours are displayed here as they were styled before their new Honour, and arranged by Honour, with classes (Knight, Knight Grand Cross, etc.) and then divisions (Military, Civil, etc.) as appropriate.
He served in many Busoga counties then later, he was appointed as treasurer for Busoga Kingdom in 1943 replacing Mr. Samwiri Bagenda. Lubogo managed to educate all his children and one of them is D.L.K Lubogo the first man from Busoga to get a University Degree (Bachelors in Laws) in 1952 from Fort Hare University of South Africa. He was the chairperson of Uganda Chamber of Commerce in Jinja District.
He was the first man to write Busoga History in 1928 in Luganda version then later he translated it into Lusoga (Lutenge), thereafter; it was translated into English in early 1990s. He was among the group members who started the Young Basoga Association in 1928 as the second political pressure by then in the country.
Elizaphania K Ntende, who was born on 30th August 1931 to Mr. Zakayo Ntende and Tolifania Ntende in Buyuya village, Bulange Sub-County, Namutumba District. He was a man of love, peace and integrity. He studied primary school and completed his secondary education from Busoga College Mwiri. He was a classmate to Justice Wako Wambuzi with whom they competed for the first position in class through the years spent in Busoga College Mwiri. For example, first term Justice Wako would be number one followed by Ntende then the next term Ntende would be the first followed by Wako. He joined Makerere University, Kampala and graduated with a Bachelors of Science in Economics and became the first person from Busoga region to get a Degree in Economics. He was the elder son among the three children with others being Christopher Ntende who was the permanent secretary Ministry of Internal Affairs in Obote I government and his young sister Nyiro Ntende. He was married to Ida Ntende on 8th August 1964 where the best-man was then the Minister of Foreign Affairs and close friends / Business partner Hon. Sam Odaka. Ntende is well known as the first person to own a private plane from Jinja. He was also a member of East African Legislative Assembly where he supported President Idi Amin to start Uganda Airlines in 1976.
He was born in 1909. He served as mayor Jinja municipal council from 1981 to 1985 in Obote II regime. In 1980’s presidential campaign, Mwangu danced around the Gadafi Baracks roundabout on Obote’s rally by that time and because of that, he was appointed by President to be Mayor of Jinja Municipal. He also served as secretary general for Busoga Kingdom. Love for education was his passion whereby he gave away his land in Kamuli district for technical institute and they relocated to Namalemba village in Iganga district.
In fact, Mwangu was the brain behind the establishment of Namasagali College which turned into a university and very many prominent people have went through Namasagali College including; Rt Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, Former Member of Parliament Hon. Miria Matembe, Hon. Jimmy Akena, Prof Wasswa Balunywa and Ntende. He was also recognized by the queen of England in 1962 as a person who has served his country with humanity.
George Balondemu’s hard work and perseverance in early 1960s made YMCA – Jinja to cheerfulness today. The 84-year-old resident of Butiki in Jinja district still has his faculties intact and his sense of humour has not wasted away with age. When I visited him at his retirement home in Butiki, Balondemu with merriment recounted his days as the first Ugandan to work with Fraternal Secretary Moses Lewis Perry of YMCA world service from 1962 and his five-year sojourn at YMCA.
He joined YMCA-Jinja in 1962 when it was still located along Main Street near DS.TV Offices as the first clerk with a white and humble gentleman Moses Perry and Mr. Nyonyintono as the Director and they faced a problem of rent because at the time, YMCA – Jinja had no land even a single building in Jinja City. Balondemu, while serving at YMCA, he was exposed to a variety of people who enabled him to get experience in office most especially in handling confidential documents and typing skills. He also managed to improve on his grammar because all the time he was communicating in English with his boss Moses Perry. The 82 old Mzee, served as a translator, translating for local youth members and all those who needed services of YMCA. He served YMCA – Jinja with one heart which helped the community to attain the great services from the institution. He advised young people to take education seriously if they are to excel in life and to be smart in what they do. Balondemu considers working and dealing with others as a secret to success and long life.
Elly was the second Assistant Secretary General of YMCA – Jinja Branch after Mosses Lewis Perry in 1963-1969. Rwakoma was born in 1937 near Bushenyi in Western Uganda. He is a self-taught photographer, and his first camera was a Kodak II given to him by his brother who worked for British American Tobacco. During a career spanning 1964 – 1985 Elly was the presidential photographer for Milton Obote and Idi Amin, and it was in Amin’s regime that Rwakoma had an unfortunate episode where he photographed Amin while naked a situation resulted Amin’s picture go viral on internet and published in New York Times thus Elly was forced into exile in 1978.
He worked at the YMCA in Jinja from 1970 to 1978 as Assistant Secretary General and ran his own photo studio first in Jinja opposite Police and later in Bushenyi. During his eventful career he had many experiences, including a near miss in which a bullet intended for him passed through the cloth of his trousers, missing his leg and leaving him unhurt. Elly, leant photographic skills from Moses Lewis Perry since Perry would take photos and send them to his boss in US.
He first served YMCA – Jinja as the Chairman Music, Dance & Drama. In 1978 Lucas was appointed as the Assistant Secretary General YMCA – Jinja Branch by National Secretary General from Kampala after the exile of Elly Rwakoma in 1978. A man of faith, he had been endowed by God with immeasurable resources of head and heart. His physical, mental and spiritual gifts enabled him to head YMCA – Jinja as the Assistant Secretary General from 1978 – 1986, at the local level, he did justice to all members and surrounded communities. He exhibited his skills in Music, Dance and Drama whereby, Lucas provided free music to young people every weekend.
He took over as the fourth Assistant Secretary General of YMCA – Jinja in 1986. He was also closely associated with YMCA Boxing Club where he traine for almost 10 years. He started several programmes to help the communities after realizing that five children would die per week in Kagoma County, Jinja district because of dirty water, Kamera, steer headed the campaign for clean water in Budondo Sub-County, Buwenge Sub-County with the support from Y- Care International to bring clean water in those Sub-Counties. He also proposed the primary health care to those Sub-Counties to improve on the lives of the people. Kamera was remembered by his people in 1998 where he contested as a councilor representing Buyengo Sub-county, Jinja district and he won the election in 1998. He became the Vice Chairman L.C.V Jinja District.
He was very technical in his work; he took over the office of Assistant Secretary General YMCA- Jinja Branch in 1993. He implemented the primary health care which was proposed by Jimmy Kamera. In his term of office, Omalla constructed four (4) health centre II’s in Kagoma County, Jinja District. If you go to Kagoma Sub-County, there is YMCA Health Centre in Nawangoma village, YMCA Health Centre II Bubugo Village in Butagaya Sub-County, YMCA Health Centre II, Mawaito village in Buwenge Sub-County and YMCA Health Centre 11, Nsozi Biri village in Buyengo Sub-County. All the mentioned health centres were built in Omalla’s regime. With all the achievement done by Omalla in YMCA – Jinja in just a space of two years, in May 1995 Omalla died.
He studied from Teso College one of the 12 secondary schools Uganda had by 1950s, the school had 21 teachers and 19 of them were white teachers (Bazungu). He worked at British American Tobacco (B.A.T) as a personnel officer. He joined Uganda YMCA in 1967 as member. He became the Vice president of Uganda YMCA in charge of Educational Programme. He also served as a Board member of YMCA. He took office of Assistant Secretary General YMCA – Jinja in 1995 after the death of Omalla Stephen in May 1995. Eridard also implemented the project of primary health care.
He studied from Makerere University with Social Sciences. After his Bachelor’s from Makerere University, he was recruited as a volunteer at Uganda YMCA headquarter. Then later, he was sent to YMCA – Jinja as a care taker to YMCA Conference Centre. Since he was already in YMCA system, Richard was appointed as Acting Assistant Secretary General YMCA – Jinja Branch. He served YMCA – Jinja for only two months and he resigned from work without clear reasons. He resolved the post of principal into Academic programme officer. He fled to US where he lives now.
Lambert aspired to be a priest (Roman Catholic). He completed his Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) from Arua Seminary Educare. Thereafter, he joined St Peter’s and Paul Seminary Educare where he completed his O’ level and he was awarded the East Africa Certificate of Education which is currently called Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE). In fact they were the last people to sit for that Certificate in 1979. From there, he enrolled for Grade III (3) primary teachers’ course from Muni Teacher’s College Arua district in 1982 and graduated in 1984.
He started working on May 1st 1984 as the deputy head teacher and after six months, his boss the head teacher went for upgrading and he was appointed as the head teacher at the age of 23, leading a school of 750 pupils and 15 teachers. In August 1986, Lambert joined Makerere High School Wandegeya for A’ level and completed in 1988. Between October 1988 and July 1990, Lambert upgraded to a Diploma level in Adult education from Makerere University Kampala. He also joined National School of Political Education in Kyankwanzi, Kiboga District, for a one-year course in Basic Military/Political education and completed in September 1989.
In February 2000, Lambert Okure Drata joined Uganda Christian University (UCU) for a Bachelors’ Degree in Social Work and Social Administration and he completed in January 2003. From there, he went for YMCA Urban Network Training in Sao-Paul, Brazil in May 18th – 23th 2003. Okure Drata, joined Open University Dar-el-salam, Tanzania for a common wealth diploma youth development (CYP) work in June 2003 to June 2005.
Board of directors since inception
| Name | From Year | To Year |
|---|---|---|
|
Yekoniya Lubogo |
1892 |
1965 |
|
Zikusooka Nyonyintono |
1965 |
1967 |
|
M Kati |
1967 |
1968 |
|
F. Crystom |
1968 |
1969 |
|
J.A Nabeita |
1969 |
1970 |
|
Wandera Ben |
1970 |
1971 |
|
D Ddungu |
1971 |
1972 |
|
M Mwanje |
1973 |
1975 |
|
E.N Magodu |
1975 |
1977 |
|
Katuwa |
1977 |
1978 |
|
C. Bbatuwa |
1978 |
1982 |
|
John M Odoi |
1986 |
1992 |
|
Balidawa |
1992 |
1994 |
|
P. Pecavet |
1994 |
1997 |
|
Mude Godfrey |
1998 |
2004 |
|
Jane Babirye Kyemba |
2005 |
2009 |
|
Lubega David K |
2009 |
2010 |
|
Kintu W. Peter |
2011 |
2017 |
|
Richard Kayaga Gonza |
2017 |
Current |