By Irene Best Nyapendi
When Bridget Sanyu Kiwala, a final-year student at Uganda Christian University (UCU), learned about the 2025 Uganda Studies Program (USP) and Omega Scholarship Garage Sale, she felt driven to take action.
Having faced financial struggles that nearly ended her education after her father, her main hope, was injured in an accident and her mother fell ill, leaving her without any means to pay tuition, Kiwala understood the weight of uncertainty.
“Recalling the stress I went through looking for tuition, knocking on people’s doors and often getting no positive feedback, I wanted to support the cause to help those in the same situation I was in,” said Kiwala, a final-year student of Bachelor of Procurement and Logistics Management.
Her journey was transformed by UCU Partners, which cleared her tuition, clearing the path for her to join the list of graduates for UCU’s forthcoming graduation in July 2025.
“Hearing the message that my tuition was cleared was the best news of my life,” she said.
Volunteers organizing donated clothes
Kiwala had struggled to make ends meet, working two jobs, including washing people’s clothes, yet still couldn’t clear her tuition.
Now, she is inspired by the kindness she received and wants to pay back, supporting fellow students in whatever small way she can, like participating in the garage sale. The trade fair is organized within UCU to sell second-hand articles to raise money for financially disadvantaged students.
Kiwala was among the many students who donated items, purchased goods and championed the initiative, despite no longer being on campus.
Her story is one of the many that powered the 2025 USP and Omega Scholarship Garage Sale, an annual event organized by the USP and the Omega Scholarship to raise funds for UCU students in need. This year, the sale, celebration of compassion, collaboration, and collective action, raised sh6 million (about $1,600) and saw increased student participation, reflecting a growing commitment to supporting scholarships.
USP is a study program of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities. The US-based Christian higher education consortium is composed of more than 180 institutions around the world, including UCU.
“This year, we collected sh6million ($1,669) from the garage sales, an increase from last year’s sh5.1 million,” said Dorothy Tushemereirwe, the leader of Omega Scholarship Cause who is also UCU’s fundraising consultant.
The funds are split evenly, with half supporting USP’s contributions to the Honors College and the other half directed to UCU’s general scholarship fund, managed by the scholarship office for students in need.
The garage sale’s success was driven by enthusiastic UCU student involvement. Students not only donated and purchased items, but also actively promoted the event among their peers.
“We saw students participate; they really marketed the event to their colleagues who supported the cause,” Tushemereirwe noted.
Lydia Wankuma, the USP Program Administrator, said: “We saw many students come and go back to bring their friends to buy things, sometimes not even for themselves, but because they wanted to support.”
Donations came from USP students, Omega Scholarship supporters, and beyond, with Tushemereirwe tirelessly collecting items across Kampala.
“It was hectic, sometimes the donated clothes aren’t clean enough, so we clean, iron, and get them ready for the sale,” she explained.
Extended to four days from the usual two, the sale offered everything from clothing to books, shoes and kitchen items, among others.
For people like Ivan Joseph Obura, a fourth-year civil engineering student, the garage sale was a chance to contribute to a noble cause. “I bought some stuff so that I could be part of this great impact,” Obura added. “I did the same last year.”
He bought clothes and six books, in addition to encouraging four of his friends to do the same.
Some of the donated shoes
“I know how difficult it is to mobilize people which is why I brought my friends to give towards supporting our colleagues who cannot afford tuition,” he explained.
Cynthia Mamfa Mayala, a final-year civil engineering student, said she donated many of her items for the sale: “I found it a better way to put away some clothes as I give impact.”
She says she carefully chose the clothes she donated to make sure people wouldn’t give a second thought before buying them.
Not only did Mamfa donate but she also bought items and helped sell others at the fair.
The 2025 fair was not just a fundraiser, it was a celebration of compassion, collaboration, and collective action. The community was privileged to acquire items at very affordable prices. Every item donated, purchased, or sold showed the commitment of students and staff to uplift others.
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To support Uganda Christian University 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.
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