By Michael Ainomugisha
With a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 4.80 out of 5.0, Diana Nansubuga emerged the best female student at the July 4, 2025, Uganda Christian University (UCU) graduation held on the main campus in Mukono. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
As if a premonition to the saying that success favors the prepared, when she joined year one in 2022, Nansubuga told her classmates: “You know what, I want to be among the best graduating students.”
When she eventually achieved her dream, Nansubuga says she felt relieved and excited because she had made her parents proud.
Yet, her path to excellence wasn’t paved with privilege. Nansubuga’s earliest memories are marked by both loss and resilience. Her father passed away when she was just three months old, and she spent her early years under the care of her aunt before eventually moving to Rafiki Children’s Home in Wakiso District, where she stayed as she studied until the age of 18.
“Growing up in a children’s home taught me so much,” she says.“You learn gratitude because you know that someone out there is sacrificing emotionally and financially, just to support a child they have never met. It shaped how I see people and life.”
Nansubuga attended Rafiki Classical Christian School from nursery to Senior Four and later joined St Augustine’s College Wakiso for A’level. She consistently performed well, scoring a first grade in Primary Leaving Examinations, at Senior Four and Senior Six national exams.
Since Nansubuga’s older siblings had studied at UCU, joining the university was not just about keeping with the family tradition; it also was a strategic choice.
“My parents encouraged me, and I liked that UCU keeps lecturers accountable,” she said. “You actually get the full value of your tuition.”
Though her childhood dream was to pursue aeronautical engineering, she had mentors who guided her toward computer science, assuring her she could bridge into aeronautics at the postgraduate level. She now seeks to pursue a Masters in Robotics and Automation.
She credits this turning point to strong support systems: her close friend and classmate Tirzah Atwiine (who also earned a First Class); and mentors like Dickson Tumuramye, the head of the Honours College; Dr. Innocent Ndibatya, from the Department of Computing and Technology; and Mr. Arnold Mangeni from the National Information Technology Authority (NITA) of Uganda.
Diana Nansubuga receives the Best Female Student award from the Chancellor of Uganda Christian University, the Archbishop of the Church of Uganda, the Most Rev. Dr. Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu, during the graduation ceremony on July 4, 2025.
“My parents – Michael and Carolyn Enis – were also my daily motivation,” she said. “Just hearing them say, ‘We’re proud of you,’ kept me going.”
Outside the lecture room, Nansubuga thrived as a leader and a learner. She served as General Secretary for multiple UCU technology clubs. She and Atwiine co-founded the Robotics and AI Chapter; she has taught peers through Google Developer Students Club sessions and was actively involved in Honours College, where she explored topics ranging from mental health to gender balance.
“Teaching others forced me to understand concepts deeply,” she reflected. “By the time of the exams, revision was easier.”
But her success wasn’t without cost.
“Sleep was the biggest sacrifice,” she said. “Between projects and lectures that stretched from morning to evening, I had to choose between rest and results and avoided activities that would waste my time.”
Her academic success opened new opportunities. She is currently serving as a research assistant in UCU’s AI Lab, where she is deepening her skills in real-world problem solving. But Nansubuga is not content with just personal success; she’s focused on impact.
“Being an orphan myself, I’ve noticed that most children’s homes lack digital literacy tools,” she said. “They rely on donations for basics like food and clothing. So, I want to start a mobile computer literacy school, something that brings basic digital training to orphanages and child-care centers. These children deserve a head start.”
Alongside her academic strengths, Nansubuga nurtured a lifelong love for music. A gifted instrumentalist and music teacher, she began playing and teaching music at a young age, eventually turning her talent into a calling.
“Music has always been a part of me. Even at UCU, I continued to teach music, and now I’m working with the Organ Academy in Kampala,” she said. “It’s something I deeply enjoy.”
When asked what advice she would give to students, especially orphans walking a similar path, she answers with humility, and wisdom: “First, put God first. Achievements without love or purpose are empty. Second, choose your friends wisely. They will influence who you become. And lastly, write down your goals and keep checking if you’re still on the right path.”
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