In a ceremony rich with tradition and purpose, outgoing prefects formally transferred authority to their successors on Sunday 28 June 2026 — a milestone that began at the altar and ended at the lunch table.
Namilyango College stood at a familiar yet always moving crossroads today as the institution's annual Leadership Handover Party brought together students, teachers, and administration in a full-day celebration of service, continuity, and renewal. The event, one of the most anticipated in the school calendar, unfolded with the gravity and warmth that has come to define the Namilyango tradition of student governance.
A morning anchored in faith
The day opened with a Holy Mass, setting a contemplative and dignified tone for what was to follow. In the quiet of the college chapel, outgoing and incoming prefects gathered side by side, a visual reminder that leadership here is not seized but graciously handed on. The liturgy drew on themes of stewardship and humility, values that Namilyango holds central to its student leadership philosophy. Both sets of student leaders received the blessing of the college chaplain before proceeding to the ceremony proper.
The handover
Following Mass, the formal handover ceremony took centre stage. Outgoing prefects, who have steered student affairs through the academic year with dedication and resolve, formally relinquished their badges and responsibilities to their successors in a moment charged with both pride and nostalgia. Speeches from departing leaders reflected on challenges overcome and lessons learnt, while the incoming prefects responded with words of commitment and vision for the year ahead.
The atmosphere in the hall was one of measured joy. Teachers and administrators looked on as the student leaders performed the ritual transfer of authority, a moment that every Namilyango old boy and old girl remembers as a turning point in their school career.
“Every year this ceremony reminds us that leadership is not about holding power — it is about building the person who comes after you.”
A luncheon to close the chapter
The afternoon luncheon brought the day to a warm and collegial close. Seated alongside the new and outgoing prefects were the teachers directly responsible for nurturing student leadership at Namilyango — Mr. Okitwi Pius and Ms. Guto Prisca, both of whom oversee the college’s prefecture and leadership programmes. Their steady guidance throughout the year was acknowledged by students and colleagues alike, with several outgoing prefects making special mention of their mentors’ counsel during the trying periods of their tenure.
The school administration was represented in full, led by the headteacher, whose presence underscored the institution’s commitment to student governance as a pillar of college life. Conversations over lunch ranged from the personal, outgoing prefects sharing memories of their tenure to the purposeful, with new leaders seeking counsel from teachers and the administration on the months that lie ahead.
Looking ahead
The Leadership Handover Party has long been one of Namilyango College’s most cherished traditions, a moment that reaffirms the institution’s faith in its students as capable, principled leaders. Today’s ceremony carried that tradition forward with characteristic grace, and sent the incoming prefects into their roles with both the blessing of those who came before them and the full support of the college behind them.
The new prefects assume their responsibilities at a significant moment in the school calendar, with the second term well underway and key academic milestones ahead. The college community wishes them wisdom, strength, and servant hearts as they take up the mantle.