Who is Godfrey Kasamba, the new headmaster of King's College Budo?

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Veteran educationist Godfrey Kasamba has taken over as the new headmaster of King's College Budo, becoming the 15th person to lead one of Uganda’s most prestigious secondary schools.

Kasamba officially assumed office on March 16, 2026, following the retirement of John Fred Kazibwe, who has served in Uganda’s education sector for 34 years. The leadership transition was marked by a brief handover ceremony at the school in Wakiso district, attended by church leaders, members of the school’s governing body and education officials.

During the ceremony, Kazibwe formally ushered Kasamba into the headmaster’s office before handing over key instruments of authority, including the school’s account PIN numbers, store keys, office keys and the official headmaster’s vehicle. He also handed over the keys to the headmaster’s residence, marking the official transfer of leadership at the historic institution.

But who is the man now entrusted with guiding the future of the prestigious school?

Kasamba is not new to King's College Budo. His association with the institution stretches back more than three decades.

He first joined KCB in 1993 as a teacher after completing his teaching practice there and was later retained as a teacher. Since then, he has served the institution in several roles, including classroom teacher, games master, examinations officer and representative of teachers on the school board.

Over the years, Kasamba has worked under several headmasters, gaining experience in school leadership and administration. He served under former headmaster Samuel Busuulwa for seven years before working under Dr George William Ssemivule for another seven years. He later worked under the late Patrick Baka Male before eventually becoming deputy headmaster under Kazibwe for the past four years.

Kasamba said the experience gained from working under different leaders helped shape his approach to leadership.

“Each of the headmasters I have worked under has contributed something to the person I am today,” he said.

Before returning to Budo as deputy headmaster, Kasamba also gained leadership experience at other schools. He briefly served as deputy headmaster at Bukomero Secondary School in Kiboga district before moving to Luweero Secondary School, where he also served in the same position.

His teaching career has also taken him beyond Uganda. He is married to Asumpta Kasumba.

During the leadership of former headmaster Ssemivule, Kasamba spent a year in Norway teaching in three different schools as part of an academic exchange programme. He was also sent to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania to support schools run by the Anglican Church.

School leaders said Kasamba’s deep understanding of the school’s culture and systems made him stand out among candidates who applied for the position.

The chairperson of the school’s Board of Governors, Jim Rogers Katende, said Kasamba’s long service at the institution was one of the factors that influenced his appointment.

“I have great confidence that the new headmaster will continue the work that Kazibwe started and move it forward if he receives the necessary support,” Katende said.

Kasamba takes over leadership of the school at a time when demand for places remains extremely high. According to Kazibwe, the school received more than 6,126 applications for Senior One admission this year but could only admit about 200 government-sponsored students.

Kazibwe, who served as headmaster for the past four years, said leadership of a large institution such as Budo comes with many challenges, including pressure from different stakeholders and attempts to encroach on school land.

“In leadership, you meet many challenges, and sometimes people misunderstand your decisions. But when you lead an institution like Budo, you must remain strong and courageous,” Kazibwe said during the handover.

Despite the challenges, Kazibwe said the school made significant progress during his tenure, including the construction of new buildings such as dormitories and classrooms, as well as improvements in water and sanitation facilities.

Kasamba said he intends to build on the progress made by his predecessor and continue implementing projects already underway at the school.

“I have been part of the leadership implementing these developments, and I will continue building on what has already been done,” he said.

Among the projects he plans to oversee is the completion of a new school chapel that was initiated during Kazibwe’s tenure.

Kasamba thanked the institutions that supported his appointment, including the Buganda Kingdom, the Namirembe Diocese, and the Ministry of Education and Sports.

“I thank God for enabling me to witness this peaceful transition of leadership,” he said.

He also expressed gratitude to Kazibwe for mentoring him and preparing him for the responsibility of leading the institution.

“I thank my mentor Canon Fred Kazibwe for preparing me for this responsibility,” Kasamba said.

Kasamba assured parents, students and the wider school community that he is ready to continue serving the institution with dedication.

His appointment comes as King's College Budo prepares to celebrate 120 years of existence later this month, marking a new chapter in the history of one of Uganda’s most renowned educational institutions.