Allan Ssembuusi
Allan Ssembuusi’s journey to graduation is a testimony to the power of perseverance and hard work. From starting as a houseboy at twelve years of age to selling water and working as a tout in the new taxi park, Ssembuusi’s path to university was far from easy.
After completing his secondary education, Ssembuusi dreamed of attending university, but faced numerous challenges.
Despite scoring 12 points in biology, chemistry, and mathematics in his Advanced-level of education, he was not selected for a government scholarship. “I was the best student from my school that year, but at a national level, it appeared that I was just a one-eyed man among the blind,” Ssembuusi told our reporter.
Despite the setback, Ssembuusi did not give up on his dream. He continued to work hard and eventually found his way into Makerere University, where he recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Health Science. Not only did he graduate, but he got a first class and finished second in his class with a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.42.
Ssembuusi’s journey serves as an inspiration to many, showing that with grit and determination, anything is possible. Coming from a poor background, Ssembuusi attended approximately ten different primary schools due to his family’s financial challenges and frequent relocations to find affordable housing. In each new school, Ssembuusi had to adjust to a new environment and make new friends, which was not easy for him. But his determination to get an education kept him going, even when he had to leave school due to unpaid fees.
During his childhood, Ssembuusi lived with his stepmother, Margaret Namuddu, in Kawanda in Wakiso district when his parents separated. Unfortunately, his mother passed away while he was in Senior four.
Ssembuusi attended several private schools in Masaka, Kawempe, and Kawanda areas before his parents enrolled him in Nakyesanja Primary School, where he scored 9 aggregates in his primary leaving examination.
Despite his impressive performance, Ssembuusi did not think he would be able to attend secondary school due to his family’s financial constraints.
However, a neighbor offered to help Ssembuusi by providing half of his school fees at Central College Kawempe in exchange for his help with household chores. While grateful for the opportunity, Ssembuusi eventually had to leave due to mistreatment by the family.
Ssembuusi’s fortunes began to change when one of the church members he only identifies as Kiwanuka connected him with Luteete Secondary School in Luweero District.
In 2012, he joined the school in S.2 and went on to finish top of his class with 19 aggregates in Senior Four. Following his success, Ssembuusi’s headteacher at Luteete Secondary School, Mike Ssekaggo was transferred to Wampewo Ntake Secondary School, and Ssembuusi joined him there for his A-level education.
Ssekaggo, who was overjoyed to hear that Ssembuusi had graduated, decided to assist him further. He notes that despite his challenging background, Ssembuusi impressed him with his academic performance and discipline.
When Ssembuusi failed to get government sponsorship scores, he could not join the university as his family could not afford private sponsorship. He spent some time doing odd jobs at Wempewo Ntake SS including acting as a porter at the school construction site. Ssekaggo later offered him a job as a canteen attendant at the school, but he eventually left and went to live with his uncle, who was a barber and taught him the trade.
After some time, he started working as a tout for taxis plying the Kawempe route and also sold bottled water and sugar canes in the taxi park.
After a year of working as a taxi tout, Ssembuusi attempted to secure admission at Kaliro National Teacher’s College in 2018 on government sponsorship, but his attempt was unsuccessful. Feeling disheartened, he abandoned his educational aspirations and began planning to migrate to the Middle East, convinced that he could land a better job there as a Senior Six leaver.
However, a chance encounter with a former classmate from Wempewo Ntake who was already in her third year at university triggered a change in Ssembuusi’s mindset. The classmate, Carol Easter Nnabanja, informed Ssembuusi about the possibility of obtaining a student loan to pursue his dream.
Ssembuusi says that he was surprised at the notion that the government could lend him money to fund his studies. Encouraged by Nnabanja’s advice, he applied for private sponsorship at Makerere University, and upon being admitted, he successfully secured a government student loan.
“I had never heard of such a thing. That government could lend you money to study. I quickly applied for private sponsorship at Makerere and when I was admitted, I applied for the loan, which was successfully given to me,” he adds.
To support himself while studying on a student loan, Ssembuusi learned how to do pedicures and started offering the service to his fellow students at the university. This helped him to earn some money to sustain him through his studies.
At graduation, Ssembuusi was celebrated by his fellow students for earning his degree and being one of the top performers in the entire College of Health Sciences. According to Larrisa Chening, a fellow student from Cameroon who attended Makerere University with Ssembuusi, he possessed a humble personality and was always willing to assist others with whatever he could. Chening also observed that Ssembuusi generously shared his academic knowledge with his classmates, which could have played a part in his success throughout the program.
Catherine Matama, another former course mate describes Ssembuusi’s background and journey to success as admirable. She is inspired by his ability to overcome the challenges of a disadvantaged upbringing and attain a degree. To her, Ssembuusi’s story is not just his own but also a source of motivation for those who might have lost hope.
Ssembuusi’s graduation marks a new chapter in his life. He is now contemplating how to repay the loan in a timely manner. He hopes to use the funds to help others like him in the future. Now a graduate, Ssembuusi is volunteering with his former lecturer, Dr. David Musoke, at the school of public health, Makerere University.
He remains optimistic that he will eventually secure a job in his field or pursue further studies to improve his life, that of his family, and others who may have a similar background.
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