HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
St. Katherine Secondary School is a government aided girls boarding A’ level school situated at Boroboro, 5 miles from Lira town, Northern Uganda. The school occupies approximately 14 hectares of land, and is about 2 km off the main Lira – Soroti road. The main compound on which are the administration block, dormitories and classrooms is fenced.
It was founded in 1958 as a Junior School for girls, and also the first Junior School in Lango as a whole. Initially, it was a mixed Secondary school with two wings: The East for boys and the West for girls. But in 1975 under the order of the then Minister of Education Hon. Abu Mayanja the two wings were separated into two different schools. Boroboro Secondary School (now Dr. Obote College) headed by Mr. M. M. Sakwa, St. Katherine Secondary School – the girls wing was headed by Mr. Okuja John (RIP).
The school was initiated by parents for girl’s education and the missionary workers endorsed it. Other founder members include: Mr. Nyankori, Rev. Can. Samson Obura and Rev. Can. Leoben Ogwal, all now deceased.
The decision to open the school was discussed in Mbale Synod meeting (where the Diocesan Headquarters was), and the then Bishop, Rt. Rev. Russell (white missionary) accepted its opening in 1958.
UPGRADING THE SCHOOL
Having started with only 45 students in Junior one and two, the school upgraded to Junior three in 1959. When most schools in Uganda phased out junior three classes in 1964, St. Katherine retained hers for the sake of special consideration for girls’ education in the region.
After junior secondary education was finally phased out by the government in 1967, St. Katherine then became a fully fledged senior secondary school for girls. It attained the A’ level status in 1982.
The name St. Katherine was chosen by the missionaries from the St. Katherine of Alexandria (307 A.D), who is the patron Saint of Schools, Churches and Monasteries in Africa. Katherine was a Saint killed in Egypt. She is commemorated for her exemplary faith, purity, testimony, and witness for Christ and martyrdom.
Currently the school has 1,307 students (as at 6th December, 2022)
FIRST STAFF MEMBERS
- Mr. Omara John (RIP) who was once the deputy to Mr. Forster – Headmaster of Boroboro Senior Secondary school – was the first headmaster.
- Mrs. Gertrude Ogwal Agea (RIP)– (first lady teacher)
- Ms. Jacinta Abok (who got pregnant and was suspended) came later
- Mrs. Edisa Nekyon, as Home Economics teacher
- Mrs. Esther Angulo
- Ms. Jane (white)
- Mrs. Ruth Odongo (from Soroti)
HEADSHIP IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:
- Mr. Omara John (the late)___________ 1958 –1959
- Mrs. Odongo Ruth (from Soroti)_______1958 -1960
- Mrs. Hillia (from United Kingdom)______1961 -1963
- Mr. John Atia Otim (the late)__________1964 -1967
- Mr. Forster (white)________________ 1967 -1971
- Mr. Aldrige (white)________________ 1971
- Mr. Bua Vincent__________________ 1971
- Mr. M. M. Sakwa__________________ 1972 – 1974
- Mr. Okuja John (the late)____________ 1975 – 1977
- Mr. Ogwang Ogwal M. (the late)_______1977 – 1980
- Mr. Ongom Joshua________________.1980 -19 81
- Mrs. Betty Okwir (RIP)_____________1982 – 1987
- Mrs. Mary Euchu (RIP)______________1988 – 1991
- Mrs. Beatrice Lagada______________.1991 – 1994
- Mrs. Mary Regina Okia______________1995 – 2006
- Ms. Connie Alambuya______________ 2007 – 2013
- Mrs. Nangwala Rose Nakwagala_______2014 – 2024
- Mrs. Margaret Akello_______________2024 – to -date
