Our history
Rooted in the Congregation of Holy Cross, we stand on the shoulders of faithful missionaries, visionary leaders and a community that believed education could transform lives.
1820 Holy Cross founded
1958 Arrived in Uganda
1993 Lake View opens
33 Years of service
Where we come from
The Congregation of Holy Cross
A community of vowed men in the Catholic Church, called to be educators in the faith.
The Congregation of Holy Cross embraces the charism "Educators in the Faith" and the spirituality "The Cross, Our Only Hope". Dedicated to serving others through parish ministry and education, it traces its origin to France after the Revolution of 1789. The country’s schools had collapsed, and Holy Cross rose to educate people as a way to overcome the injustices of the time.
In 1820, Fr. James Dujarie founded a group of brothers to teach in parish schools. Around 1835, Fr. Basil Moreau joined them with a group of priests to formally establish the Congregation of Holy Cross. It spread quickly to Africa (Algeria) and North America (the United States and Canada) in the 1840s, and to East Bengal (now Bangladesh) in 1852.
In 1958 Holy Cross came to Fort Portal, Uganda. Its work stayed mostly in that region until the move to Nairobi in 1978, when the Congregation began welcoming East Africans into its ranks.
Bugembe, 1990 to 1996
The founding of Lake View
In 1990, the need to educate young seminarians and brothers led to the Philosophical Centre in Jinja, and Holy Cross was entrusted with a parish in Bugembe. Its first parish priest was the late Fr. Robert Hesse, C.S.C., who had been among the very first Holy Cross members to arrive in Uganda in 1958.
Fr. Hesse and Br. Paul Kasande, C.S.C. saw an urgent need for secondary education in Bugembe. Wanyange Girls, Busoga College Mwiri and M.M. Wairaka College were nearby, but high competition and high fees put them out of reach for most local families.
Fr. Hesse and Br. Paul organised the local people and rallied their support at a meeting on 18 October 1992. Contributions came in cash and in kind, and volunteers gave their labour.
The beginning of Lake View
On 23 February 1993, the school opened as an O-level day school with one classroom and fifty-one Senior One students. Sr. Mary Louise Whaler, C.S.C. was the first headmistress.
Each year a new class was admitted and another classroom built. At the request of parents a hostel opened in 1995, and the school began its move from day to boarding. UNEB granted an O-level centre on 8 August 1995.
When the pioneer students sat their exams in 1996, a "miracle" happened: Lake View was listed among the best fifty schools in Uganda, a testament to the dedication of its founders, staff and students.
Our heavenly patron
St. Andre Bessette, C.S.C.
Br. Andre Bessette, born in 1845, was a humble and sickly man who never finished primary school. For forty years he served as the porter of a large Holy Cross boarding school in Montreal, Canada. Mostly, he prayed.
People were drawn by his kindness, and he was blessed with the gift of healing. Out of his devotion to St. Joseph grew St. Joseph’s Oratory, the great church on the hill opposite the school. When he died in January 1937, over a million people came to pay their respects despite the bitter cold.
St. Andre is a special friend of Holy Cross Lake View. We attribute our achievements since 1996 to his prayers. Our school hall is named Andre Hall, and the Br. Andre Vocation Club nurtures young people to follow his path of humble service and unwavering faith.
1820 to today
Key milestones
1820
The Brothers are founded
Fr. James Dujarie gathers a group of brothers to teach in parish schools in France.
1835
The Congregation is formed
Blessed Basil Moreau unites priests and brothers to establish the Congregation of Holy Cross.
1958
Holy Cross arrives in Uganda
The first Holy Cross members come to Fort Portal, beginning the mission in East Africa.
1992
A community says yes
On 18 October, a meeting in Bugembe rallies local support for a new secondary school.
1993
Doors open
On 23 February the school opens with one classroom and 51 Senior One students. Sr. Mary Louise Whaler, C.S.C. is the first headmistress.
1995
From day to boarding
A hostel opens and UNEB grants an O-level examination centre on 8 August.
1996
The "miracle" year
The pioneer class sits UNEB and Lake View is listed among the best fifty schools in Uganda.
2001
Incorporation
The school is incorporated under the sponsorship of the Congregation of Holy Cross.
2004
A plan for growth
A physical development plan is drawn up as Br. John Flood, C.S.C. takes leadership.
2007
A new campus
A development plan is set to build a new campus on the "Musiima land".
2019
Girls’ dormitory
A 600-bed girls’ dormitory opens on 8 March, International Women’s Day.
2020
Silver Jubilee Complex
The dining hall, kitchen, canteen and conference hall are completed.
Those who led us
Leadership succession
- Sr. Mary Louise Whaler, C.S.C. 1993 to 2003
- Br. John Flood, C.S.C. 2004 to 2010
- Mr. Rumanyika Alex 2010 to 2013
- Br. Cleophas Kyomuhendo, C.S.C. 2013 to 2016
- Mr. Akoragye John Niwizera July to December 2016
- Br. Neema Everest Kizito, C.S.C. 2016
- Sr. Beatrice Driwaru, C.S.C. 2017 to 2022
- Rev. Fr. Prosper M. Atukwatse, C.S.C.Current 2022 to present
Each leader has added something of their own to the school’s growth while keeping the Holy Cross charism of educating minds and hearts.
Building for the future
Campus development
Under the Congregation of Holy Cross, the campus has grown tremendously. A 500-bed boys’ dormitory has been completed, and a 600-bed girls’ dormitory opened on 8 March 2019. A new classroom and administration block brings modern laboratories and a library, serving up to 2,000 students.
- 500+ Beds in the boys’ dormitory
- 600 Beds in the girls’ dormitory
- 2,000 Students the new academic block serves
- 12 Staff housing apartments
The Silver Jubilee Complex, with its dining hall, kitchen, canteen and conference hall, was completed in 2020. Parents partnered with the Congregation by contributing 20% of the cost. Twelve self-contained staff apartments are complete and occupied.
Work continues on the second phase of staff housing, the C.S.C. community house and the playground. Our priorities for the years ahead:
- Completing the school chapel
- A second wing of dormitories
- Rainwater harvesting tanks
- An upgraded solar power system
Per Scientiam Ad Serviendum Education for Service