Old Budonians Launch Giving-Back Campaign to Mark 120-Year Milestone

King’s College Budo, a prestigious educational institution in Uganda, is marking its 120th anniversary with a unique initiative led by its former students, known as Old Budonians. The Old Budonians’ Club has embarked on a campaign to raise Shs1 billion towards the construction of a new chapel, while also strengthening programmes aimed at supporting learners, mentoring young people, and helping members facing personal and professional challenges.

The fundraising campaign is being organised around 10 alumni clusters, each expected to raise Shs100 million. The clusters comprise the school’s seven boys’ houses, two girls’ houses, and former Budo Junior School students who did not proceed to King’s College Budo. The club president, Susan Muhoza, said the initiative reflects the responsibility former students have towards an institution that shaped their lives and continues to educate generations of Ugandans.

The proposed chapel will be a three-level facility, with a nursery and daycare centre on the ground floor, a multipurpose hall with a capacity of over 1,500 people on the first floor, and a chapel expected to accommodate about 3,000 worshippers on the upper floor. Construction began in late 2025 and had reached the second level by November 2026, with the club targeting completion in time for the school’s Founders Day celebrations in March 2027.

The club’s contribution to the school goes beyond infrastructure development. Through its scholarship programme, the association supports one boy and one girl from each institution, helping learners who might otherwise struggle to meet the costs of education. It also runs mentorship initiatives that connect former students with current learners, offering guidance on education, career choices, and personal development.

The Old Budonians’ Club is seeking to strengthen professional links through internships and other opportunities that enable young people to benefit from the experience of alumni. The association also provides welfare support to members, including assistance related to mental health, addiction, emergencies, and access to education opportunities through partnerships such as UNICAF.

The campaign requires collective commitment from former students across different generations, with the club having an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 active members, in addition to former students living abroad. Founded in 1906 by the Church Missionary Society, King’s College Budo was later handed over to the Diocese of Namirembe and initially admitted boys before becoming a co-educational institution in 1933.

As the school approaches its 120th anniversary, the alumni campaign offers an opportunity for former students to translate their memories and attachment to the institution into practical support for its next generation. The proposed chapel is not simply a construction project, but part of a broader effort to preserve the institution’s legacy while investing in the people and opportunities that will shape its future.

Key points

• The Old Budonians’ Club aims to raise Shs1 billion for a new chapel and support learners through its scholarship and mentorship programmes.
• The proposed chapel will be a three-level facility with a nursery, daycare centre, multipurpose hall, and a chapel accommodating 3,000 worshippers.
• The campaign reflects the responsibility former students have towards an institution that shaped their lives and continues to educate generations of Ugandans.