UCU alum: ‘God has a purpose for every season’

By Sulphine Mbambu Bonabana

Uganda Christian University (UCU) alumna Stella Nankya, 30, has a singular goal: making an impact. 

One place she hopes to achieve that is through her role as a trainer for Educate!, a non-profit Enterprise that prepares African youth to learn, earn and thrive. A web page that mentions her organization notes that the NGO is “obsessed with impact.” 

Programs like Educate! that contribute to empowering youth and improving their livelihoods seem a good fit for Nankya, who has an undergraduate degree from the UCU School of Social Sciences and a post-graduate degree from the same school. 

“I love to see young people trying to get the best out of themselves with the little capital and skills they possess,” she said. 

Nankya, who received her secondary education in Mukono, joined UCU to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration and later, a Master of Public Administration and Management. She graduated from the two courses in 2022 and 2025, scoring a Grade-Point Average of 4.00 and 4.2, respectively, out of 5.0. 

After her first degree, Nankya did not get a permanent job, but secured an administrative role at Aga Khan University, Nakawa, Uganda, on a short contract that ran from May through November 2025. In this position, she was organizing and coordinating meetings, events and logistics to ensure effective communication and smooth operations, as well as overseeing front desk operations to provide quality service and maintain a professional office environment.

For Nankya, a master’s degree means strengthening her leadership and management skills. 

“The program complements my background in social work and has equipped me well enough to contribute more effectively to community development,” she said.

Nankya’s dissertation topic, “The Influence of Microfinance Institutions towards the Growth and Development of Small and Medium size Business Enterprises in Uganda,” focuses on public administration and service delivery. The research reflects on how administrative practices can improve effectiveness and organizational performance and speed up decision making.

Beyond the knowledge she gained, the course also reinforced her belief in lifelong learning. “Ever since I obtained my undergraduate degree, I have learned that learning never stops, and every role provides an opportunity for growth,” she said. 

“The main challenge I faced while pursuing my post-graduate degree was balancing work responsibilities with academic deadlines.”

Outside the workplace, Nankya enjoys spending time alone to meditate and reflect, participating in church events, cooking and traveling. She also loves watching movies, especially “Tears of the Sun,” a fictional action film set in Nigeria. She finds pleasure in learning new things that help with professional and personal growth.

Stella Nankya, an alumna hoping to make impact

Nankya is an Anglican but prays at Grace Tabernacle Church, Mukono, a Pentecostal establishment. She says faith has been her constant source of strength and guidance. 

“When my work contract with Aga Khan University ended, I was disappointed but my faith reminded me that God has a purpose for every season,” she said.

With her favorite verse being: John 14:14 “If you ask for anything in my name, I will do it,” Nankya is encouraged that God will always work out everything for her. 

“My experience with my faith has strengthened my trust in the timing of God and I am encouraged to keep moving forward with hope,” she said.

In addition to thanking God, Nankya is grateful to her sponsor, Dr. Malcolm Reid, a board member of the USA-based Uganda Partners non-profit, who assisted with her tuition after the two met on the UCU Main Campus.

She hopes to continue growing professionally by taking on roles with greater responsibility; contributing to organizational development and using the knowledge and the skills she has gained to continue making a meaningful impact.

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