In early 2007 a number of residents from Ndali Valley, Kabata and Rugembe, three of our neighbouring communities, got together to discuss the overpopulation and low standards of the government run primary schools. They concluded that an alternative was needed in the form of an affordable private primary school.
James Tibamarua was appointed director and Susan Kyomukama headmistress, both veteran teachers living in Ndali Valley with inspiring talent and tenacity. A small plot of land bearing a few dilapidated buildings was rented and three teachers employed. The fees were set at 10,000Ush per term per pupil. That’s about $5 per term, so just $15 per year. By the end of the first year 53 pupils were enrolled – not quite enough to cover the rent and the wages, but an encouraging beginning that quickly blossomed. Today, 150 children are enrolled, enjoying the kind of student-teacher interaction only possible in moderately sized classes (there are fewer than twenty pupils per classroom teacher) under the care of the dedicated young faculty.
Early in 2008, James and Susan approached Ndali Lodge looking for support for their school. After being shown around the meagre facilities holding eight classfulls of attentive children and being fully aware of the overcrowding of the government schools in the area, we were more than happy to affiliate Ndali with their exemplary endeavour. Land has now been secured on the edge of Ndali’s boundary to build a completely new school 
for Auntie Susan and her pupils. Fundraising began at Aubrey and Clare’s wedding in May 2010, where guests were asked to donate towards the project rather than give wedding presents. So far about $7000 has been raised, we hope to be able to start some of the basic ground work soon, however we need to secure more funds before we start building to ensure that we can complete the whole project.As a locally-founded effort to provide children of the area with a higher quality of early education Aunt Susan's School is very close to our hearts, and a promising platform for further innovation in local education.
