By Derrick Muduku
The first striking feature of Kamaranzi Ruth Angella is a contagious smile that effortlessly radiates from her face. Surprisingly, that smile elicited insults from fellow students while she was in high school.
“I encountered some insensitive comments about my teeth then,” Kamaranzi recalled. The bullying propelled her to get braces, an action exposing her to dentistry and her future career.
The 25-year-old is a recent graduate from the Uganda Christian University (UCU) School of Dentistry, affirming that the early belittling fuelled her desire to choose a specialty in treating teeth.
“Initially, I wanted to be a doctor, but this awakened the urge in me to opt for dentistry and ensure that what happened to me doesn’t occur to any other person out there,” she said.
Kamaranzi narrated a confidence-draining act like bullying in a buoyant and upbeat mood; she has optimism written all over her.
After finalizing her studies, Kamaranzi felt the need to put her dental skillset immediately into practice. She saw a perfect window to do that through volunteering as she waits for her required one-year internship to commence.
Kamaranzi and her smile
Currently, Kamaranzi is volunteering in two Kampala dental clinics. During the interview at Alfa Dental Clinic, she got a call from her other site, Mukwaya Dental Clinic. The call was inquiring about her availability, a testimony to the value of her knowledge and skills.
She reiterated that volunteering has positively impacted her career growth journey.
“I have matured because here, unlike in the university, I have to do most of the things such as tooth extractions on my own, with limited supervision,” she said. “I have become bolder and clearer in my decision making.”
Kamaranzi named some of the facilities and tools she uses while at work as dental chairs and extraction forceps, with the common ailments among her patients being gum disease and cavity issues.
When time came for her to look for a university to enable her to fulfil her dentistry aspirations, she was amazed at the openness and the warmth at the UCU School of Dentistry.
Kamaranzi with some classmates at the UCU School of Dentistry
“UCU was an intimate community that availed me with everything,” she said, “Right from the hands-on teaching style, to the amazing lecturers; I am practicing today because of the skills I acquired there.”
Kamaranzi commended most importantly the School of Dentistry for availing her the priceless gift of being God-fearing.
“In my practice, I work with a lot of integrity and putting God first in all I do,” she said. “I am honest with my patients and I learnt not to put profit ahead of their wellness. Their health comes first.”
Kamaranzi on graduation day
While still at UCU, she vividly recalls a particular community engagement that stuck with her. In as much as they were many, the three-hour boat ride to Koome Island in Mukono District was a game changer.
“This is a community with an underprivileged group of people,” she said. “We camped there for a week, raising awareness about dental care and offering services as well. This was a new experience that opened my mind.”
In addition to being extremely optimistic, Kamaranzi asserted that her compassionate, empathetic and extroverted nature has propelled her this far in her career journey. She affirmed that in her private life, she loves to swim, listen to music and engage in adrenaline-pumping activities like bungee jumping.
Looking ahead, Kamaranzi revealed one idea she has with eight of her former UCU classmates: “We plan to open up a Dentistry Plaza with each of us specializing in something so that we can practice together,” she said. “I also intend to open up my own enterprise as well.”
With her studies at UCU School of Dentistry starting in 2020 during the turbulent times of Covid-19, it is heart-warming to see that she has graduated in 2025 with a future seemingly as bright as her smile.
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