By Jean Ninah Nankunda
Some childhood memories stay with us forever.
For Brenda Acheng, a native of Saga, Kisumu County in Kenya, one of those memories is when she lost her mother. She was six years old – an age when most children are just starting to understand life. That painful reality became more anguishing when, four years later, she lost her father as well.
Friends and relatives stepped in to support Acheng during that difficult season, but their kindness could not fully erase the insecurity and sadness she carried. In those moments, she found lasting comfort in her faith, trusting that God would never let her down.
“I am who I am because of God,” said Acheng, an alumna of Uganda Christian University (UCU). “Trust in God, remain patient, and never give up on your dreams.”
These words, a reminder that God has a plan, in spite of hard times, are the foundation of her life.
Acheng hopes to pursue doctoral studies in order to strengthen maternal and newborn health systems in Uganda.
Acheng says she learned to “stay in her lane,” not to compare herself to others and to focus on her path. God also brought people in her life; people who believed in her even when she doubted herself. Among those are her aunt, Miriam Enyega (RIP), who raised her; Proscovia Bakobye Kaleebi, who played the role of older sister and teacher Madam Nakayega, who always encouraged her and reminded her that she was capable of doing great things. She also credits Anthony Kiwanuka, her undergraduate lecturer, for helping shape her career path and instilling discipline and responsibility.
Witnessing the challenges affecting maternal and newborn health systems and the impact they have on families and communities inspired Acheng to pursue a Master of Public Health Leadership at UCU’s Faculty of Public Health, Nursing and Midwifery. In pursuing the course, she aimed to develop the leadership skills needed to support her strengthen health systems and influence positive change.
Looking back on her academic journey in July 2026, Acheng reflected on the financial challenges she faced while pursuing her studies. At a moment when the burden of school fees left her feeling discouraged and uncertain, she met a sponsor from the USA-based Uganda Partners NGO who listened to her story and offered support.
“I trusted that God would make a way,” Acheng said. “And God did. It was more than financial support; it was an opportunity to continue pursuing the calling and the passion that had always been in my heart.”
Through her master’s course, Acheng has been able to engage in meaningful research that addresses critical maternal and adolescent health challenges, including teenage pregnancy. Uganda continues to face a significant burden of adolescent pregnancy, with approximately 1 in 4 girls aged 15–19 having begun childbearing, according to national survey data. Her work reflects her commitment to using research, leadership and evidence-based approaches to strengthen health systems and improve outcomes for the communities.
“This is an issue that requires the involvement of everyone—teenagers, parents, schools, communities, and leaders,” she said. “I do not want my research to remain on a library shelf; I want it to inform action, improve lives, and contribute to keeping children in school. When you educate one child, you empower them to transform their community, and transformed communities can contribute to a stronger nation.”
Today, Acheng serves as a Project Coordinator at Save The Mothers East Africa. She also works as an Administrative Assistant at Utano Health and Wellness, where she continues to apply her skills in leadership, program coordination and health systems strengthening. Utano Health Solutions is a health and wellness services agency dedicated to collaborating
with individuals and organizations to foster wellbeing.
She hopes to pursue a PhD and continue contributing to research, public health leadership, and the development of stronger health systems in Uganda.
Her message to students and those pursuing their dreams is: “Trust God, be patient and never give up on your dreams.”
Acheng is deeply grateful to Save The Mothers for the opportunity to pursue the Master of Public Health Leadership program. The support not only enabled her to advance academically but also equipped her with the leadership skills, knowledge and the confidence to contribute to stronger health systems and improved maternal and newborn health outcomes in Uganda.
“When you save a mother, you save a name, a story, and a future connected to countless others. When you save a child, you save a promise—the promise of a life that can change a family, a community, and a nation,” she said.
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