Photo: School founder Mother Kevin newly constructed block
BY MARY NAKASI
newseditor.info@gmail.com
100 YEARS old St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School, a fully registered and accredited as an examination centre by the Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board (UAHEB), has confirmed to this News Website that, opposition NUP Bukomansimbi North MP Christine Nandagire Ndiwalana was their student enrolled on 29th of April 1998 to pursue a Midwifery course for two and a half years, an equivalent of S.6.
School records have it that, Nandagire sat and passed National exams set by Uganda Nurses and Midwives Examination Board, a Government examination body. This answers questions about the authenticity of her academic documents raised by NRM’s Ruth Katushabe in court, whom she massively defeated in Bukomansimbi North MP elections early this year.
In an exclusive interview with St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School, a Catholic based institution, this news webite can now exclusively report that, on completion of S.4, Christine Nandagire enrolled at this institution and was awarded a certificate, then the Uganda Nurses and Midwifery council gave her the licence to practice after she was qualified.
Under the Parliamentary Elections Act, “A person is qualified to be a member of Parliament if that person; {a) is a citizen of Uganda, (b) is a registered voter and (c) has completed a minimum formal education of Advanced Level standard or its equivalent. National Council for Higher Education (NCHE) insists, Hon. Nandagire has the equivalent of A level she got from St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School.
In fact the school told us that, a student who has got skills like Christine Nandagire is far better than a student who is just educated. If she comes out as a nurse, that is a step ahead.
“A person from ‘A’ level might have the qualifications of Education but does not have the skills. But our students, after completion of S.4, persue a course in nursing for example, and after two and a half years, they will already be enrolled nurses with a certificate from the ministry of Education. Yet after S.6, a student is not a skilled nurse. Our students can easily go back and upgrade for a diploma. Then goes for a Bachelors. This is what Hon. Ndiwalana did.” Nsambya School told this News Editor Media.
All this comes after High Court in Masaka nullified Hon. Ndiwalana’s election as Bukomansimbi North member of parliament saying she does not posses the minimum academic qualifications as required by the law governing election of Members of Parliament.
Court found out that it is true, Nandagire sat for S4 but the question was about the equivalent of Advanced level having not gone to HSC.
She has however run to court of Appeal saying Masaka High Court judgement has gaps seen by even a blind person. Click and read related story: DID JUDGE KATUNGUKA SLEEP ON DUTY? HERE IS WHY BUKOMANSIMBI NORTH MP CHRISTINE NDIWALANA HAS RUN TO COURT OF APPEAL
In a 35 pager judgement given by Her Lordship Hon. Justice Ketra Kitariisibwa Katunguka on September 28th 2021, judge said Christine Nandagire did not posses a certificate from St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School showing that she attended and completed this Midwifery course, which the institution has responded to, saying Certificates are issued out by the National Examination body not the institution.
Judge said, “In the least effort, there should be at least a printout of the final results duly endorsed by the Principal Tutor of the Training school or the medical superintendent or another official of the training school confirming that Christine Nandagire Ndiwalana completed and passed.”
In response, the training school told us, “No student sits for National Examinations and instead gets a certificate from his or her school or institution. We expected judge Katunguka to be in the know of this. Yes Christine Nandagire was our student, she sat for National Examinations and was awarded a Certificate by the examinations body. What else did the judge want from her?”
“Ndiwalana studied from here (St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School) and her academic records are crystal clear. All files are available, we don’t destroy files. Let court excuse this institution from their politicking.” said the school boss angrily.
For starters, St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School is a one in three school, comprising of a Nursing, Midwifery and Laboratory schools. It is the training department of St. Francis Hospital.
The school was started by Mother Kevin Kearner a Franciscan missionary sister from Ireland who also founded Nsambya hospital in 1903, about 118 years ago.
Mother Kevin started an enrolled Midwifery school in 1919, 102 year ago, in order to develop staff that would help her handle the many obstetrical problems that faced mothers and their unborn children at that time.
The Enrolled Nurses’ course was started 10 years later (1931) and commencement greatly eased the care of the many patients who thronged the newly started Nsambya Hospital.
The Laboratory Assistant course was started in 1946 and with the expansion of the Hospital in the course of the years, the need for personnel of a higher calibre became evident so the Registered Nurse/Registered Midwifery courses were started in 1972-1974 respectively. The Diploma course for the Laboratory school started much later in 1984.
‘DON’T DRAG THIS GREAT INSTITUTION INTO YOUR POLITICKING’ – WARNS ST. FRANCIS NSAMBYA HOSPITAL SCHOOL
A tough speaking school boss told our reporter that those who think can drag this institution into their politics are just wasting time, St. Francis Nsambya Hospital School produces quality products which are competed for in market.
“No one can kill the reputation of this institution which has been here for over a Century and millions of people know about St. Francis Nsambya Hospital training School. Any one who thinks by blackmailing this great school can kill our name, is simply day dreaming.” Said the School’s boss.
She asked, “How can you say, an institution which is hundred years old is not registered yet the Ministry of Education knows it is? Someone speaking like that must be having a problem. He or she can say whatever he or she wants but that will never change who we are and what defines us.”
We were briefed that this Institution doesn’t give certificates to their students, it is under the ministry of Education and Sports. The certificates are approved by the National council for Higher Education (NCHE). Students sit for the National examinations and are licenced by the council.
“Did they consult the ministry of Education and it disowned Christine Nandagire? Those saying she did not complete her education, are not in ‘class’, they lack knowledge.” Said the school’s boss.
She told us, St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School was gazetted and registered under the ministry of Education and Sports, “We are a National centre for Exams, we even operate as a marking centre. Would the ministry give us an examination centre if we were not registered? You just come from wherever you are to start saying St. Francis Training School isn’t registered. That is their opinion. They are ignorant, they are suffering from something we may not know. This is politicking which we are not ready to go into.”
About Hon. Ndiwalana passing exams, Nsambya training school confirms that yes their former students sat and passed exams.
“Did she register with Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Council? Is she known? Is she gazetted? Did she sit for National Exams like all our students? The answer is yes. We presented all records to court. Those doubting, ought to have gone to Uganda Nurses and Midwifery Council to get everything about Hon. Christine Nandagire.” Said St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School’s boss.
She wondered how Nandagire could have gotten a certificate from the ministry of Education if she did not pass National exams. How did they renew her certificate? and how did the National Council for Higher Education clear her to contest for MP elections? Why then did court not take time to verify all her academic documents if there were doubts?
About how she was admitted with different names of Nandagire Chriss yet at Nsambya school she was called Christine Nandagire, school cited an affidavit sworn by her.
“The name can easily be changed by an affidavit. If judge didn’t know that, then I have nothing to say.” Noted the school’s boss saying, those were political issues, St. Francis Nsambya Hospital Training School is not a political institution, NCHE and Electoral Commission perfectly performed their duties, if the judge had different views, it’s up to her.
On completion of her certificate at St. Francis Hospital Nsambya Training School, Christine was enrolled and got a certificate from the ministry of health (The Uganda Nurses and Midwives Council).
National Council for Higher Education considered this certificate for Christine Nandagire to equate and issued out , ‘The certificate of Completion of Formal Education of Advanced level or it’s Equivalent’. This is the certificate she used to contest and win elections.
Away from that, in 2012, Christine Nandagire Ndiwalana got a Diploma in Guidance and Counseling from Uganda Matyrs University Nkozi (UMU).
She was admitted at the International Health Science University (IHSU), today known as Clarke international University (CIU) for a diploma as a Medical Clinical Officer.
Dr. Ndiwalana holds a Bachelor’s of medicine and Bachelor’s of Surgery from Islamic University In Uganda (IUIU).
A quick one, Nursing encompasses autonomous and collaborative care of individuals of all ages, families, groups and communities, sick or well and in all settings. It includes the promotion of health, prevention of illness, and the care of ill, disabled and dying people.
What do Nurses/Midwives do?
They work in a variety of settings and specialities. They may choose to practice in hospitals, nursing homes, medical offices, ambulatory care, occupational, health and community healthcentres, schools, clinics, camps etc.
COURSES OFFERED/ENTRY REQUIREMENTS @ NSAMBYA HOSPITAL TRAINING SCHOOL
● Diploma Nursing/Midwifery (Direct), duration is 3 years. To be enrolled, a student must havery sat for ‘A’ level with a Principal Pass in Biology and a subsidiary pass in Chemistry
● Diploma Nursing/Midwifery (up-grading) takes 1 ½ years. You are required to have a Certificate in Nursing or Midwifery
● Certificate in Nursing or Midwifery for 2 ½ years. A student must posses ‘O’ Level standard with at least passes in sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, and Mathematics)
● Diploma in Laboratory Technicians course takes 2 years. Required to have ‘A’ level sciences with two (2) Principal Passes in Biology and Chemistry.
● Laboratory Assistants duration is 2 years. You must possess ‘O’ Level standard with at least passes in sciences (Physics, Chemistry, Biology, English, and Mathematics) Certificate
● Certificate in Clinical mentor. Duration is 9 months. Required to be an Enrolled nursing /Midwifery /laboratory Assistant or Diploma in any of the above Advanced.
● Diploma in E- learning (Midwifery). Takes 2yrs. You are required to have a Certificate in Midwifery
RELATED NURSING & MIDWIFERY SCHOOLS/UNIVERSITIES IN UGANDA
▪ Arua School of Nursing
▪ Butabika School of psychiatric Nursing
▪ Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery.
▪ Kabale School of Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Lira School of Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Mulago Health Tutor’s College
▪ Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Public Health Nurses College
▪ Soroti School of Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Bwindi School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Fort Portal International Nurses Training School
▪ Ishaka 7th Day Adventist School of Nursing
▪ Kamuli School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Kibuli School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mbale School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mengo School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mukono Diocese School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Lubaga Health Training Institution
▪ St. Francis Nyenga School of Nursing
▪ Villa Maria School of Nursing
▪ Mityana Institute of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mutolere School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Makerere University Department of Nursing
▪ Mbarara University Department of Nursing
▪ Gulu University Department of Midwifery
▪ Busoga University School of Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing
▪ IUIU School of Nursing
▪ Uganda Christian University Nursing School
▪ Clarke international University (CIU)
▪ Bishop Stuart University School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Kampala International University Nursing School Western Campus
▪ Kampala University School of Nursing
▪ Arua School of Nursing
▪ Butabika School of psychiatric Nursing
▪ Hoima School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery.
▪ Kabale School of Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Lira School of Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Mulago Health Tutor’s College
▪ Mulago School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Public Health Nurses College
▪ Soroti School of Comprehensive Nursing
▪ Bwindi School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Fort Portal International Nurses Training School
▪ Ishaka 7th Day Adventist School of Nursing
▪ Kamuli School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Kibuli School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mbale School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mengo School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mukono Diocese School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Lubaga Health Training Institution
▪ St. Francis Nyenga School of Nursing
▪ Villa Maria School of Nursing
▪ Mityana Institute of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Mutolere School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Makerere University Department of Nursing
▪ Mbarara University Department of Nursing
▪ Gulu University Department of Midwifery
▪ Busoga University School of Enrolled Comprehensive Nursing
▪ IUIU School of Nursing
▪ Uganda Christian University Nursing School
▪ Clarke international University (CIU)
▪ Bishop Stuart University School of Nursing and Midwifery
▪ Kampala International University Nursing School Western Campus
▪ Kampala University School of Nursing
For comments/views about this story, send an email to newseditor.info@gmail.com
