Marriam Nasuuna

Marriam was the first teacher to join Solomon at Mweruka Junior School. This was in 2006, 15 years ago. In the early stages of MJS, there was no funding, and she taught on a voluntary basis. Miriam is “Senior Woman” at the school and is responsible for the nursery. She is also Liturgy/teacher for P-1 (first grade). During the Ugandan “Covid Holiday” Mweruka Junior School was closed by the governement. Marriam and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. She also joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

She has been the coordinator for “days for Girls” a program which addresses women’s hygiene and provides menstrual kits.

How did you become involved in MJS and BOJ?
“I was influenced by Uncle Solomon at the time when the school had just started. By then, only four students had sponsors”.

What is the biggest challenge you are currently facing?
“Lack of teachers’ housing near the school.”

Joseph Kyalimpa

Joseph is Deputy Director of Mweruka Junior School. Joseph began assisting Solomon shortly after the school was purchased by Solomon in 2006. Joseph is also a member of the Blessings of Joy Board of Directors and serves as it treasurer/secretary. He is influential in his role assisting with legal paperwork for the school.

Benon Kizito

Benon is Solomon’s brother and has been on the BOJ, Uganda Board of Directors since 2006. When Solomon came to the United States in 2007, Benon became Director of Mweruka Junior School, Uganda and Blessings of Joy, Uganda. He accepted the responsibility and left his full time job even though BOJ had no funding to pay salaries. Benon assists the US Board of Directors as “the hands and feet, and eyes” on the ground in Uganda.

In addition to overseeing the finances for Blessings of Joy, Uganda and MJS, Uganda, Benon is director of the children sponsorship program and is the link between a sponsored child and the sponsor. He communicates with the sponsor giving updates on the children and their special needs as well as delivering the sponsored child’s monthly “care” package. Benon has a caring heart and a deep love for the children of Mweruka Junior School. Benon also coordinates the high school, trade school and college sponsored student program.

Prior to the year long Ugandan “Covid Holliday,” Benon directed and coordinated two Gospel Outreach revivals each year. Each Gospel Outreach involves several regional pastors who disciple those who “come to the Lord” during the revival.

Justine Wanyana

Justine joined the school in 2010, and serves as a teacher for Nursery. Justine and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Justine also assisted in delivering food to 76 families in need.

Robert Kiggindu

Joining the school in 2010, Robert serves as the school’s Principle. He is also a teacher for P-7, seventh grade. Serving on the school’s Nutrition Committee, Robert was the recipient of the Winter 2020 Employee Service Award.

Victor Bwogi

Victor has been teaching at Mweruka Junior School since 2011. He teaches social studies to P-6 sixth grade, and P-7 seventh grade, students. In the absence of a social studies text book Victor has written a social studies “text book” for the students.

He was one of two teachers seclected by the school to receive the Outstanding Teacher Award for the 2020 academic year. Victor and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Victor also assisted in delivering food to 76 families in need and joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

How did you come to be involved with BOJ, what is your specific role?
“ I wrote an application, did an interview and was granted a vacancy as a social studies teacher. Therfore, my specific role is to provide basic education to the learners and to shape children’s behavior at school.”

With so many great organizations to support, why should others choose BOJ?
BOJ employs workers regardless to race, religion and tribe. It has funded the education of children which has eradicated illiteracy among children in the community where it serves. Furthermore, BOJ has changed the lives of teachers by giving them favorable monthly salaries.”

Nanyondo Diana

Diana is one of Mweruka Junior Schools newest teachers, joining the staff in 2020, and currently serves as a teacher for Nursery. Diana and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six childern or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice.

Ssewanyana Mathew

Mathew joined the teaching staff in 2019. He shares teaching responsibilities for P-2, P-3, P-4, second, third and fourth grades. Mathew and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Mathew also joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

Godfrey Sservanga

Godfrey has been with the staff since 2015, and serves as Administrator/Senior Man. He also serves as administrator over the employees and children’s welfare. has been on the BOJ, Uganda Board for several years. He also serves as the coordinator for“days for boys”.

Is there an achievement that you are most proud?
“ The improved standards of living among the children of MJS due to the existing programs, particularly hygiene and sanitation at school”.

Alex Ssekikubo

Alex joined the faculty in June of 2018. He was one of Solomon’s students when he taught at a school in Masaka. As a teacher of mathmatics he fills a critical need, preparing P 6 and P 7 (grades 6 & 7) students for their graduation certification exams and matriculation into high school. Two subjects that seem to be predictors of student success in high school and beyond are math and English. Alex was awarded the academic year 2020 Employee Service Award for outstanding teacher. Alex and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice.

Now that some of the students have gone through this program, what is the outlook for their future?
“Many children who have been taught at Mweruka Junior School have beomce responsible citizens like teachers, engineers, designers, etc. Their health has also improved.”

Ossuku Johnstone

Johnstone is relatively new to the teaching staff, joining in 2019. He teaches P3, P4 and P5 (grades 3, 4, 5) students. Johnstone was the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award for academic year 2020. Johnstone and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Johnstone also joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

Tell a little about your experience at MJS.
“I have been with MJS now two years. I really love my job and I cherish the pupils because they like interacting with me, {which} makes me proud of them. I also thank Almighty God for His grace, love and favor. I thank the sponsors of MJS for their motivation, and the directors and entire administration of MJS for their care and transparency.”

Josephine Namaganda

Josephine has been on staff since 2018. And serves as Deputy Principal, Librarian, and teaches for P2 (grade 2). She was the recipient of the Employee Service Award Winter 2020. Josephine and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six childern or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Josephine also assisted in delivering food to 76 families in need.

Laban Nuwagba

Laban has been with the program since 2018 and teaches P-6 and P-7 (grades 6 & 7) students. His academic responsibilities also include the responsibility as Director of Studies. Laban also serves as head of the schools Nutrition Committee. Laban and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Laban also assisted in delivering food to 76 families in need.

Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of?
“The achievement I am pretty proud of is that since joining the faculty, all years {the} children have been passing to join high school. 2019 was the best year ever. The school had ten graduate candidates who had the top score (1), eleven second grade (20 and no third grade (3) or failures on their graduate certification exams.

Comfort Akello

Comfort joined the faculty in 2018 and serves as Teacher for Nursery (kindergarten) and P-1 (grade 1). Comfort and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Comfort also joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

Deo Gratius Kizza

Deo Gratius joined the faculty in 2019, and serves as teacher for P-5, P-6, P-7 (grades 5, 6, 7). Deo Gratius and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Deo Gratius also assisted in delivering food to 76 families in need.

Pavin Naanseko

Pavin joined the faculty in 2019 and serves as teacher for Nursery (kindergarten) and P-1 (grade 1). Pavin and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Pavin also assisted in delivering food to 76 families in need.

What is life like for the children after attending and what is the outlook for their future?
“The school has equipped children with education. They enjoy studying and their health has improved. great hope for them {is} to become useful citizens.”

Agnes Tendo

Agness joined the staff in 2019, and serves as the school cook.

What do you enjoy about being with MJS?
I enjoy being with MJS because it is a Christian founded school. It has helped me to grow spiritually and have total love for God. There is good working relationship between teaching staff and me, the cook.

Kakooza Hamidu

Hamidu joined the faculty in 2017, and is a teacher for P-3, P-4, P-5 (grades 3, 4, 5). Hamidu and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six childern or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. Hamidu also joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

Why do you think others should know about Mweruka Junior School and Blessings of Joy- Uganda?
“People should now know and be aware that MJS is a good place for the better education of their children. BOJ- Uganda is not only being supportive, but also {is} a trustworthy orginazation which can transform a child into a better futured person”.

John Wasswa

John joined the faculty in 2017. He teaches P5 and P6 (grades 5 and 6). He accepts significant responsibiliity as Hygiene Director. John and other teachers continued to teach small groups of six children or fewer in the villages and educate the villagers regarding Covid safe practice. John also helped in delivering food to 76 families in need and joined a group of teachers who assisted the villagers in making Tip-Tap hand washing stations.

Is there an achievement or contribution that you are most proud of?
“The eradicating of illiteracy through funding education of children. Also the provision of health services which has camped the effect of diseases and provision of safe water which has changed the health style of people.”

Elias Bainomugisha

Elias joined the staff in 2017, and serves as the school guard.

How did you come to be involved with BOJ? What is your specific role?
“I got involved with BOJ by the influence of our Beloved director of BOJ- Uganda, Kizito Benon.
I am a night watchman at MJS and my main role is to protect the school property.”

Nakalungi Harriet

Harriet is the most recent to join the staff in 2020, and serves as BOJ- House Caretaker. Blessings of Joy House is a small orphanage owned by Blessing of Joy, Uganda and directed by Benon Kizito. The number of orphans cared for varies but averages around six. Harriet is their caretaker, nanny, house-mother.