By Gloria Katya
Receiving an education is everyone’s dream in Uganda. However, to some, the pursuit of that dream turns into a nightmare as money to support the aspiration vanishes. Formal learning is halted.
Such is part of the story of Dianah Ninsiima. It’s a story of education lows and highs – with a helping hand part of the high.
Financial problems started while she was in Senior Two. She was rescued by a “Good Samaritan” who met all her financial needs in secondary and post-secondary school. Because of an anonymous person, she graduated on October 22, 2021, with a Uganda Christian University (UCU) Bachelor of Arts in Education degree.
“I want to thank my sponsor for the work and effort she put in me,” Ninsiima said, promising to work hard and have the “same generous heart and so that I can help those in need.”
Unlike some other students and because of a donor, the 24-year-old says she did not have any tuition challenges during her bachelor’s degree program.
Ninsiima’s desire to pass on knowledge to the younger generation influenced her decision to pursue a course in education, specializing in teaching English and Literature in English. She hopes to teach English and Literature in English in a secondary school in Uganda.
“My sponsor has given me a hand, right from Senior Two, until now,” she narrates, saying there was never a time she was sent home for non-payment of tuition.
When she joined UCU in 2017, many factors influenced Ninsiima to pick the institution as her university of choice. One was that her father, Mujuni Vincent, is a driver who had learned about the value of UCU from some passengers affiliated with Uganda Partners, a USA-based, non-profit charitable organization that provides scholarships and other student, staff, program and facility support.
Looking back at what she has reaped in her three years of study at UCU, Ninsiima is grateful.
“UCU is a great institution because its students are given first-hand information by a team of committed lecturers,” she said. Ninsiima adds that the “manageable number of students at UCU” enables lecturers to identify students’ weaknesses and help them accordingly.
The passion for education and sharing knowledge, Ninsiima says, is part of what drives her. She says at UCU, she was inspired by her equally passionate and vibrant lecturers – Dr. Joel Masagazi, the former Head of the Department of Education at UCU and Peter Mugume, the former Head of the Department of Literature.
Ninsiima is the first of four children of Mujuni Vicent and Nampereza Betty, who live in Rukungiri district, western Uganda. She attended Mirembe Primary School and later joined St. Stephen’s College Bajja, for secondary education.
From UCU, Ninsiima will be heading to her marital home in Mukono, where she and her husband have one child.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++To support Uganda Christian University programs, students, activities and services, go to www.ugandapartners.org and click on the “donate” button, or contact UCU Partners Executive Director, Mark Bartels, at m.t.bartels@ugandapartners.org.