By Mirembe Christine
As Anna Nankabirwa approached the end of her first year at Uganda Christian University (UCU), she stared at the possibility of dropping out of school. Her father, the major breadwinner in the family, had lost his job, rendering him unable to meet Nankabirwa’s tuition needs.
At that point, the family’s financial responsibilities fell on Nankabirwa’s mother, who struggled to shoulder the burden.
One afternoon in 2023, Nankabirwa, who was pursuing a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree, found herself in a conversation with a reverend at Christ the Redeemer Church. She shared her financial burden with him. After listening to her story, Nankabirwa recalled, the reverend casually said her tuition needs would be met.
She hardly believed what she had just heard: “When you’re facing financial challenges, many people make promises that are never fulfilled.”
She was, however, shocked at the start of the next semester, when she noticed that money for tuition had been deposited into her bank account. And that continued until Nankabirwa completed her undergraduate studies in June 2026.
“When I saw the first payment for the tuition deposited into my account, I knew everything had changed for the better,” she said during an interview in June. Nankabirwa was among the 1,274 students who graduated from the UCU main campus on July 3, 2026. One of the moments that touched her the most was learning that her sponsor had offered to pay her graduation fees.
Nankabirwa now joins a field with a severe healthcare workforce shortage in Uganda, with the hope that her entry, however small, will contribute to efforts to improve the current trend. With an estimated nurse-to-patient ratio of 1:11,000 in Uganda, this is far below the World Health Organization’s recommended baseline of 1:1,000. Such shortages lead to heavy workloads and compromised quality of care.
Nankabirwa and her brother, Arnold Kabanda, were raised by her parents in Mukono, central Uganda. She describes her childhood as simple and ordinary, surrounded by parents who did everything within their means to provide for them. Kabanda is currently in Senior Five at King’s College, Budo, one of Uganda’s elite secondary schools.
She attended St. Anthony Primary School before joining Ndejje Secondary School. She describes herself as an average student rather than a standout academic performer. She had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. She thus worked doubly hard in biology, which was always her best subject.
According to Nankabirwa, the nursing school was both a rewarding and demanding experience. The long days of lectures, practical sessions, clinical placements, examinations and the endless studying became part of her routine. “The classes were as interesting as they were hectic,” she said.
There were days when the practical sessions began early in the morning and stretched late into the evening. Practical training demanded discipline, patience and endurance. Nursing, she says, allowed her passion for biology and healthcare to flourish. She also benefited from supportive friends who helped her navigate difficult moments.
Her friends often encouraged her when she felt overwhelmed – they would check on her when she missed classes and motivate her to keep moving forward. “Sometimes you would feel tired and want to give up, but your friends would encourage you to continue,” she said.
She also found inspiration in several lecturers, particularly Dr. Elizabeth Namukombe Ekong, whose professionalism and communication skills left a lasting impression on Nankabirwa. Ekong is the Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Nursing, and Midwifery.
Nankabirwa aspires to build a meaningful career in healthcare. She envisions herself in hospital administration or pursuing advanced studies in nursing education or public health. For students facing financial challenges, Nankabirwa’s message is: Keep going. She believes that when opportunities come, they should be matched with commitment and hard work. “If someone is willing to help you financially, you should do your best,” she says. “You should show them that they did not waste their time by choosing to support you.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
To support UCU 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.
Also, follow us on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
Discover more from Uganda Partners
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
