Chief Justice Zeija Urges Students to Embrace Hard Work as Shs200 Million Is Raised for School Project
At a colorful fundraising event held on Saturday at St. Gertrude’s Girls’ Vocational Secondary School Kisoro, Dr. Flavian Zeija called on students to work hard and remain focused on their ambitions, highlighting that success comes through perseverance.
“The future is in the hands of those who work hard,” Dr. Zeija told the students. Quoting Aristotle, he added, “The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet,” urging learners to sacrifice present comfort for future success.
The Chief Justice was the chief guest at the fundraiser aimed at constructing a modern two-storey classroom block to address congestion and accommodate the school’s growing population. He was accompanied by the Judiciary Permanent Secretary, Dr. Pius Bigirimana.
Drawing from his humble beginnings, Dr. Zeija shared that he once admired priests in his village because they were influential figures at the time. However, he encouraged students to stay determined in pursuing their dreams. “You must have ambition. Life is not a bed of roses; you must struggle to succeed,” he said.
He explained the transformative power of education, noting, “We support education because education made us. We couldn’t be where we are without it.”
Dr. Bigirimana echoed similar sentiments, particularly addressing the girl students. “Young ladies, the future is in your hands. You must have ambition and know what you want to be,” he said.
He recounted his own childhood in Kisoro, where he admired priests and magistrates, which later influenced his career path. “I used to admire priests because they seemed powerful, and later I admired magistrates—and that is how I ended up in the Judiciary,” he noted.
In a significant gesture, Dr. Bigirimana launched a scholarship fund to support top-performing students at both O-Level and A-Level. He immediately pledged support to Kukasira Queen Sherry, who scored 20 points in the 2025 UACE examinations offering MEG/ICT. He committed to paying Shs1 million per semester towards her education.
Kukasira expressed gratitude for the support, revealing her plans to pursue a Bachelor of Statistics at Makerere University.
The school’s headteacher, Sr. Flavia Ainembabazi, welcomed the initiative, stating that the new classroom block would significantly improve learning conditions. “This facility will ease congestion, improve the learning environment, and enhance academic performance,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Chairperson of the Board, Rev. Fr. Christmas Austen, called upon Christians and well-wishers to support the cause. Delivering his homily, he cited the biblical example of King David rallying people to build the temple. “The people gave wholeheartedly, showing unity and sacrifice—an example we must follow today,” he said.
The fundraising drive was a success, with over Shs200 million collected in cash and pledges, marking a major step toward improving infrastructure and education standards at the school.
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