The late Fr. Anthony Ndiwalana who was then a serving priest at Our Lady of Consolation Katende Catholic parish started St Maria Goretti SSS Katende as a private Catholic founded school in 1966. Unfortunately, the first year was discontinued due to inconveniences and the school was officially opened in January 1967. The school’s foundation was compelled by the need to bring education nearer to the children within the locality in the then education impoverished Mpigi area.

This explains why, though the school is at present day predominantly boarding, it maintains a day section. The initial funding of the school came from contributions from the Roman Catholic Church.