Martin B Kananura
Personal life
Birth and Growth: Martin was born in the year 1960. He grew up in Mbarara. Martin is a family man; he married his wife, Lydia Kananura on 27th August 1987 and together they have 3 children; Duncan Aturinda, Martha Komugisha and Melvin Karuhanga. Through them, Martin has 6 grandchildren.
Shaping of a contributor to society
Having grown up with his father – a teacher by profession – who rose to become a Headteacher at a local school before later being appointed Inspector of Schools in the region.
Education and Professional Life
Kananura went to Kitagata PS where he completed his Primary Education before joining the famed Ntare School – the most prestigious secondary school in the region having produced two presidents in Uganda and Rwanda. Kananura excelled at Ntare school and followed in the footsteps of father – the late Sam Baregire – joining Shimoni Teacher Training College in 1983 for his Grade III Certificate. Kananura joined Kakoba National Teachers’ College Kakooba in 1990 to upgrade to Grade V Teacher. At Kakooba NTC, he was voted and served as Guild President 90/91. Kakkoba NTC would later be transformed and is now a fully-fledged university – Bishop Stuart University, Kakooba in Mbarara City. In 1995, Martin joined the oldest and most prestigious university – Makerere University Kampala for his Bachelor’s degree. He attained his Master’s degree at KIU in 2016.
Proving his mantle
Upon completion of his Teacher training at Shimoni Teacher Training College in 1983, Martin got his first job at a local school in his village – Biharwe Mixed Primary School where he taught for a year before being promoted to Deputy Head Teacher. He served as Deputy Head Teacher for one year and again, his employers sighting his strong leadership skills and technical competence promoted him and posted him at Kishasha Primary School and later to Katojo Biharwe Primary School. Martin, however, proved his mantle at his later postings at the top schools in Mbarara, Mbarara Junior School and Mbarara Municipal School
Martin’s most recognized contribution to Uganda’s Education sector came while he served as Head Teacher at Mbarara Municipal School – the leading Church-founded and government aided primary schools in Uganda – which has grown to become a model school under a Ugandan government program – Universal Primary Education (U.P.E) – where the government embarked on making Primary Education accessible to all Ugandan children. The program funded schools and provided subsidies to school budgets so as to make primary education accessible to all Ugandans in a move to raise literacy levels in the country.
Martin Kananura was recognized by government as one of the best teachers under the program after overseeing the growth of enrollment at the school from 1721 pupils when he joined in 2003 to 3916 pupils in 2020 when he retired. The school on several occasions produced the highest number of students scoring the first grade in the Uganda National Examinations (P.L.E).
Martin Kananura also spearheaded the introduction of vocational courses at the school to skill students in tailoring, baking, knitting and other hands-on skills.
Following his undeniable contribution to education in Mbarara and Uganda at large, parents at his former school – Ntare school – showed the confidence they developed in him seeing his exploits at Mbarara Municipal School and selected him to represent the Parents on the school board of governors as Chairman Parents’ Teachers Association
Martin Kananura is exemplary in service to the community and the people that live around him. Martin has initiated, participated and excelled in various social mobilization schemes aimed at making a meaningful socio-economic impact on his community and society at large.
Since retirement, Martin Kananura has made it a point to giving Back in Church and other organisations. Mr. Martin Kananura serves on various boards and development for a including serving as President Rotary Club Mbarara East in 2016, Treasurer Mbarara Investors’ Club 2015-2021, Chairperson Parents’ Teachers’ Association at the prestigious Ntare School and more recently as President Mbarara City Development Forum in 2021 and Chairperson Kyarujungu Meat Producers Cooperative Society.