Namugenyi, who served the school’s English Department for more than two decades and headed its Middle School at Kitante campus, has been remembered for inspiring generations of learners through reading, writing and storytelling.
KAMPALA — Kampala Junior Academy is mourning the death of Ms Hawa Namugenyi, a long-serving Primary Seven teacher and Head of Middle School at its Kitante campus, whose death comes just days before her pupils sit their Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).
Namugenyi, who joined the institution’s English Department in 2004, dedicated more than two decades to teaching, mentoring and supporting learners, leaving behind a legacy that the school says will continue to influence generations of pupils.
Her death comes at an especially difficult time for the school’s Primary Seven candidates, who are preparing to complete their primary education and undertake the national examinations that mark an important transition in Uganda’s education system.
In a tribute, Kampala Junior Academy described Namugenyi as a dedicated educator and mentor whose contribution extended beyond classroom instruction to the personal and academic development of learners.
The school highlighted her passion for English, particularly reading, writing and storytelling, saying she encouraged pupils to develop confidence in expressing themselves and appreciate the value of literature.
“Her impact on our learners and our school will live on in the stories they continue to read, write and share,” the school said in its tribute.
The institution also extended condolences to Namugenyi’s family, relatives, friends, colleagues and the wider school community.
A teaching career spanning more than 20 years
Namugenyi joined Kampala Junior Academy in 2004 as a member of the English Department and remained part of the institution for more than 20 years.
During her service, she played a significant role in nurturing learners’ language skills and encouraging them to appreciate reading as an important part of education.
Her work focused not only on helping pupils understand English but also on developing their ability to communicate ideas, express themselves through writing and engage with different forms of literature.
The school particularly remembered her enthusiasm for storytelling and her commitment to encouraging young learners to discover their creative abilities.
Her contribution to the institution also extended into school leadership, where she served as Head of Middle School at the Kitante campus.
The position placed her within the school’s academic leadership structure, with responsibilities connected to supporting learning and the development of pupils.
Although the school has not disclosed details of her final days or the circumstances surrounding her death, its tribute emphasised the depth of her contribution to the institution.
Champion of African stories and creative expression
One of the defining aspects of Namugenyi’s teaching was her passion for African stories.
According to the school, she encouraged learners to explore narratives that reflected their identities, communities, cultures and everyday experiences.
Her approach gave pupils an opportunity to understand storytelling as more than an academic exercise. It also helped them appreciate how literature can preserve cultural experiences, communicate values and provide different perspectives on society.
By encouraging children to tell stories about their communities and lived experiences, Namugenyi helped create opportunities for learners to connect classroom education with the world around them.
The school said her influence would continue through the stories pupils read, write and share.
Her emphasis on reading and creative writing also reflects the wider importance of literacy in primary education, where learners develop foundational skills needed for further academic progress.
Reading improves vocabulary, comprehension and critical thinking, while writing helps pupils organise ideas and communicate effectively.
For young learners preparing to transition into secondary education, these skills remain essential across different subjects.
PLE candidates face a difficult moment
Namugenyi’s death has come at a particularly sensitive period for the Primary Seven pupils she had been teaching and mentoring.
The candidates are preparing for the Primary Leaving Examinations, an important stage in Uganda’s education system that assesses learners at the end of primary education.
For many pupils, PLE marks the conclusion of years of classroom learning and the beginning of the transition to secondary school.
Teachers play a central role during this period, providing academic guidance, helping candidates prepare for examinations and supporting their confidence as they approach the next stage of their education.
Namugenyi’s death therefore represents a loss not only to the school’s teaching staff but also to the pupils who had looked to her for instruction and mentorship.
The school has not publicly provided details about how her responsibilities will be handled during the remaining examination preparations.
However, her colleagues and the wider school community will have an important role in supporting the candidates as they approach their examinations.
For the pupils, remembering the lessons and values she imparted may become part of how they navigate this difficult period.
A legacy beyond the classroom
Kampala Junior Academy’s tribute also recognised Namugenyi’s influence on parents and fellow teachers.
The school said her more than two decades of service had touched the lives of people across the institution through her dedication, mentorship and commitment to education.
Her work illustrates the wider influence teachers can have in shaping children’s lives, extending beyond academic performance to confidence, creativity, discipline and personal development.
A teacher who encourages a child to read, communicate and express ideas can influence how that learner approaches education and future opportunities.
Namugenyi’s particular interest in African storytelling also highlighted the role of educators in helping children appreciate their cultural backgrounds and develop an understanding of their communities.
For parents, teachers and school administrators, her passing is a reminder of the important contribution experienced educators make to the continuity and quality of learning institutions.
School extends condolences to family
Following her death, Kampala Junior Academy expressed sympathy to Namugenyi’s family, relatives and friends.
The institution said burial arrangements would be communicated at a later date.
It did not disclose the cause of death, and no further details about the circumstances surrounding her passing were included in the tribute.
The school concluded its message with prayers for her peaceful rest.
“May her soul rest in eternal peace,” the institution said.
Remembering an educator’s contribution
Namugenyi’s death leaves a significant gap at Kampala Junior Academy, particularly within its English Department and the Middle School leadership at Kitante.
Her more than 20 years of service provided an opportunity to influence generations of learners through language, literature and creative expression.
While her pupils prepare to sit their PLE examinations, the school community is also reflecting on the contribution of an educator whose work helped shape their academic journeys.
Her legacy, as described by the institution, will continue through the learners she taught and the stories she encouraged them to tell.
For the Primary Seven candidates, completing their examinations will be an important milestone, but it will also come at a time when they and their teachers are mourning a mentor who played a role in their education.
As the school prepares to communicate burial arrangements, colleagues, parents, former pupils and friends are left to remember Namugenyi for her dedication to teaching and her commitment to nurturing young minds.
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