Holy Cross Lake View Secondary School (HCLVSS), pictured above, is a private secondary school owned by the Congregation of Holy Cross in the District of East Africa classified as ‘O’ and ‘A’ level Secondary School, mixed day and boarding.
In 1992, Rev. Robert T. Hesse, C.S.C. and Br. Paul Kasande, C.S.C., saw an urgent need for secondary education options in the Bugembe region Although there were schools in the area – Wanyange Girls, Busoga College Mwiri, and M.M. Wairaka College – they were not accessible to the local people due to fees and the high competition for placement. They recognized a demand for better education for everyone and decided to do something about it.
Fr. Hesse and Br. Paul organized the local people and rallied their support for the project, which was initiated at the meeting of parishioners, LCs, local educators, and other interested people held in October 1992. Contributions were made in cash and in-kind. Volunteer labor was obtained and on February 23, 1993, the school opened as an O-level day school with just one classroom and fifty-five senior one students.
The school then grew yearly and as one group was admitted, another classroom was built. Due to pressure from parents who knew a good thing when they saw it, a hostel was opened in 1995 and the school began its transition from day to boarding. Uganda National Exams Board (UNEB) granted an O-level center on August 8, 1995, and things were set for the first sitting (of exams) the following year. When the pioneer students sat in 1996, a miracle happened and when the results were issued, Lake View S.S was listed among the best fifty schools in Uganda.
Sr. Mary Louise Whaler, C.S.C., a sister of the Holy Cross, who was an experienced headmistress, had just returned to Uganda from a break of being headmistress at St. Maria Goretti Girl’s Senior Secondary School (SSS) in Fort Portal. On request, she humbly accepted the responsibility to head Holy Cross Lake View SSS. The subsequent headteachers that followed were: Br. John Flood, C.S.C. at the start of 2004 who succeeded Sr. Louise, Mr. Rumanyika Alex in 2010, Br. Cleophas Kyomuhendo, C.S.C. in 2013, Mr. Akoragye John Niwizera and Br. Neema Everest Kizito C.S.C., and in January 2017 Sr. Beatrice Driwaru C.S.C.; the current headteacher.
Because the school continues to thrive, the decision was made to build a 12-unit hostel for teachers. Once completed the Holy Cross Mission Center plans to raise funds for another building so that all of the teachers are taken care of. Providing room and board for the faculty will make the school more competitive and more likely to bring in the very best teachers for the students.
