General
Shafik Senkubuge Overcomes Financial Difficulties to Become First-Class Graduate
Shafik Senkubuge, 24, is set to graduate from the Makerere University with a Degree of Bachelor of Environmental Health Science on January 29. Before becoming one of #Mak74thGrad’s stars from the College of Health Sciences (MakCHS), he faced financial constraints and personal challenges, but found the wisdom and resilience for his academic prowess to shine brightly.
He graduates with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 4.46 out of 5.00 (First Class Honors) qualifying him to be on the Vice Chancellor’s List. As a practice in Makerere University School of Public Health, he receives an award for the meritorious completion from the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Barnabas Nawangwe.
Senkubuge entered MakSPH, after he missed his dream course, Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery due to low points. He had obtained 15 points in Biology (03), Chemistry (04), Mathematics (o6) plus a point in ICT and General Paper (GP) at Mengo Senior School, despite having set himself a target to make 19 points.
Background
Back in time, April 24, 2000 was the time when Kasozi Mohammed, a boda boda rider in Kampala and Pamela Nambusi gave birth to a young man, they later named Shafik Senkubuge. This was in the neighborhoods of Kawanda Namalere in Nangabo, Kyadondo, Central Uganda district of Wakiso. His family later shifted to Kagoma Village, in Maganjo Parish, Nabweru Subcounty and later went to Nansana Municipality, about 9.6km from the centre of Kampala, the capital of Uganda.
It is here that he calls home. He is the first born in a family of three, with two younger sisters. Recently, [his father] informed him about having two additional sisters. Despite communication between his parents, they do not reside together, and his father has a second wife.
At the moment, his father drives a motorcycle taxi (Boda Boda) out of Nabweru, a Kampala suburb which is close to Kawempe. The mother, who is self-employed, is starting a decorating company in Nansana. She’s presently setting up a small business that specializes in decorations for parties, graduations, and introductions.
A 2022 Twaweza report showed that Up to 55% of Ugandans who opened businesses in the past five years had to close them due to coronavirus disruptions, declining demand, and heavy taxation
Despite relying on her hair designer job for nearly her adult life, Pamela, Shafik’s mother could survive the pandemic. In 2020, she was forced to close down her saloon after she failed to raise the rent.
“During the lockdown, we had a lot of demands as a family and she couldn’t accommodate the saloon rent. She had a very huge debt that accumulated, the landlord decided to request her to leave the house for another person. She left the house, took all her equipment home and after COVID-19 she failed to resume the same business due to financial constraints,” Shafik narrates.
This happened a very critical time he was joining University. Fortunately for him, his mother had ventured into brick-laying during lockdown, and this is where he concentrated his energies to look for his tuition, if he was to ever join University.
Shafik’s academic journey began in 2004 at Kawempe Junior. A dedicated teacher at Melody Junior School that he joined later in 2009 ignited his interest in Science and Mathematics. This spark set the stage for his remarkable academic journey.
After completing primary two and crossing to primary three in 2008, his father had constructed a home in Nansana, where the family had to relocate to. In 2009, Shafik joined a new school – Melody Junior School in Nansana, a new environment, getting new friends.
At P.7, he became one of the only 4 first grades the school had, scoring 12 points.
“As the firstborn, my mother rejoiced, but concerns arose about my future after primary school due to financial constraints. Despite manageable primary school fees, I graduated with a debt. Upon retrieving my certificate, we settled the debt when I was already in senior one. My mother, balancing happiness and worries, pondered on how to secure my entry into secondary school, especially with my sister in primary five and our youngest sibling born in 2011, just around a year old,” recalls Shafik.
In 2014, still puzzled at the next step, his uncle, Patrick Ssenabulya, secured him a place through his NGO at St. Kizito Katikamu Kisule in Wobulenzi, Luweero district.
Starting secondary school in Luweero with a score of 12 aggregates among classmates with 4 and 6 aggregates, Shafik aimed to excel. Forming a close bond with his friend Kayondo Joseph, the duo navigated senior one to senior four together.
Despite facing math challenges, he encouraged me to confront them, and we succeeded. In the first term, he ranked 17th out of 178 students, bringing immense joy to my mother. The following term, he secured the third position, maintaining the second position consistently until completing senior four, including in UNEB exams
“When I went back home, my mom was very happy. I remember she slaughtered a chicken for me,” recalls Shafik.
St. Kizito Katikamu Kisule, a Catholic-founded school, groomed him and exposed his potential. “We used to go to church every day, they groomed us to be humble students and be disciplined. This helped us a lot and groomed us to be competitive even in academics,” he recalls
Despite obtaining 16 aggregates at Uganda Certificate of Education from this humble school, Shafik’s quest for a better education led him to Mengo Senior School, where he faced new challenges, including a shift from boarding to day school, walking long distances. Despite the obstacles, he maintained a strong work ethic, learning valuable lessons in time management and determination.
Her mother provided a Shs3000-transport allowance daily, covering both transport and break. He would skip the break tea to save part of the money for his transport back home in the evening. As such, he only used to have lunch to last until he left school at 5:00PM. This was the routine for the two years spent at Mengo SS, and his academic performance suffered significantly during that period.
“The first points I got were seven points, and this did not change up to our Mock examinations where I got to 10 points. Being at Mengo SS, made me learn even if you are brilliant, you need to have some extra tactics and thus we used to work so hard and we did serious calculations.
I remember sometimes we used to go to some other school, Kasubi Senior School, and read up until 10:00pm, then head back home. But by that, you are cutting a traffic jam that is usually there from around 8:00pm,” he recollects.
As he completed his Form 6, fate led him to a teaching position at his former primary school. The sudden closure of schools due to the pandemic forced him to adapt, and he embraced brickmaking as a means to sustain himself. The challenges were many, but Shafik’s resourcefulness and tenacity shone through.
A few weeks into the semester, a second lockdown was announced by the president. This was according to him a blessing in disguise. He was uncertain how to clear tuition and registration.
A man named Longman Musige, a friend of my mother, promised to provide one million each semester. Although he already gave me one million, he still needed 1.8 million for semester registration.
“Upon reflection, we had crafted our bricks, but when the lockdown hit, we struggled to find funds to heat them and cover the remaining tuition. Despite burning the bricks, selling them proved challenging, leaving my mom anxious about my exam fees. Eventually, with support from Musawo Kaliro, contributions from friends, and brick sales, I managed to register for the online exams for the first semester,” he says.
Adding that; “Post-exams, my GPA stood at 4.9, providing a promising start towards achieving a first-class degree. Progressing through semester one and two, I maintained my diligence and benefited from my mom’s prayers. However, challenges arose during the exams in the second semester of year two.”
His classmates ran a campaign to raise him tuition but they could only raise Shs.1.4M from well-wishers out of the Shs.4.7million needed to clear the previous semester and the new semester.
His only hope was the Dean of MakSPH to whom he wrote a letter seeking financial assistance. “I detailed my financial situation, attached my results slip, and presented the funds I had collected. I was delighted to learn that she granted me a scholarship of 3.5 million. This not only cleared my backlog but also covered the third-year functional fees. With this support, I moved to University Hall for my third year, allowing me ample time for studies and fulfilling my leadership roles as MUEHSA president and college speaker.”
The ACMIS system at Makerere University faced a malfunction during the second semester of the first year in 2021, around the time the university was transitioning from AIMS to ACMIS. To Shafik, this was a golden chance to take exams without meeting the payment requirements.
Madvani Foundation Comes in handy
The twists and turns continued as he confronted financial obstacles, including unpaid tuition and the demands of a university education, even in his final year.
The scholarship however covered only tuition and not functional fees. This meant that he had to struggle to raise functional fees and accommodation, since he had moved to University Hall, a male student’s residence on campus.
Shafik’s involvement in student leadership, notably as the president of the Makerere University Environmental Health Students Association (MUEHSA), showcased his commitment to community engagement. Under his leadership, MUEHSA regained its lost glory, organizing conferences, community outreaches, and health education programs.
The pinnacle of his leadership journey was marked by the successful organization of the 18th Annual MUEHSA scientific conference, where stakeholders and students converged to discuss pressing environmental health issues. Shafik’s visionary leadership extended beyond MUEHSA, as he became the first College of Health Sciences speaker in the new guild system.
He sends his sincere gratitude to everyone who has been instrumental in mentoring him, especially Mrs. Ruth Mubeezi Neebye and Dr. David Musoke and his staff, whose advice has been priceless. He also extends gratitude to previous classmates. “To my colleagues, I would like to appreciate and congratulate them on this accomplishment. It has been quite a demanding task but we thank the almighty God who has enabled us to reach this far. Let’s remain with that bond, let’s remain friends, let’s not lose the connection and I know if we still work together as we have been working, the sky would be the limit,” he says.
The Board Chairperson of the Makerere University Endowment Fund (MakEF), Dr. Margaret Blick Kigozi, has urged graduands in Health and Life Sciences to uphold professional ethics and serve humanity with diligence and compassion.
Her appeal came during the passing out of graduates from the College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS), the College of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Resources and Bio-Security (CoVAB), the College of Health Sciences (CHS) and the School of Public Health (SPH) on Day Two of the 76th Graduation Ceremony of Makerere University.
“Class of 2026, you are now part of the Makerere legacy. Wherever you go clinics, laboratories, farms, boardrooms, or classrooms, you carry this institution with you. Serve your patients with skill and compassion. Care for animals and communities responsibly. Question boldly and keep learning,” Dr Kigozi, said.
Delivering the commencement address, Dr. Kigozi lauded the graduates for their dedication to careers that directly impact lives and communities. She encouraged them to use their knowledge generously and exercise their power gently.
“Your education has trained you to ask better questions. Your humanity must guide the answers. Never forget that behind every chart, every case, every animal, every experiment, there is life. And life deserves care, patience, and dignity. Give every person you come in contact with care, patience and dignity,” Dr Kigozi, noted.
As the graduates embark on their professional journeys, Dr. Kigozi emphasized the importance of cultivating basic business acumen and financial literacy to ensure sustainability in their work.
“You do not need to become accountants but you must be able to read the essentials: understand simple financial statements, budgets and key metrics so you can judge whether a clinic, lab, or program is sustainable. You are encouraged to start your business. There are numerous investment opportunities in your areas of training. You can provide services to our people and create jobs,” Dr Kigozi, said.
She shared candidly how, when she first stepped into leadership, she realised she did not understand balance sheets or budgets well enough. So, she returned to Makerere for short courses to strengthen herself.
“A well-run Hospital, clinic or lab delivers better outcomes, attracts staff, and secures funding. Business savvy is not only about profit, it’s about sustainability and the freedom to serve ethically and effectively. Carry clinical skill with business sense so your work endures and grows,” Dr. Kigozi, noted.
Quoting renowned writer and producer Shonda Rhimes, creator of Grey’s Anatomy, who once reflected that succeeding in one area of life can sometimes mean falling short in another, Dr. Kigozi encouraged women graduates to intentionally balance professional ambition with family responsibilities.
“When one area thrives, another is often under strain. When Navio was graduating from school I had to manage the Presidential Investor Round Table on the same day as Executive Director Uganda Investment Authority. I chose my job and delegated his siblings to attend Navios graduation. I learnt from this. I choose family always after that thing you achieve once and keep forever,” Dr Kigozi, said.
In his speech, the Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, the Vice Chancellor, informed the congregation that Makerere’s ranking on all university ranking platforms has remained stable, placing Makerere among the top 10 African universities and within the top 4.5% globally.
“In the Times Higher Education global ranking, Makerere University made a formidable jump from the 1200-1500 bracket to the 800-1000 bracket. This was no mean achievement and I congratulate all members of the Makerere Community on this stellar performance,” Prof Nawangwe, said.
-
Humanities & Social Sciences5 days agoMeet Najjuka Whitney, The Girl Who Missed Law and Found Her Voice
-
Health1 week agoUganda has until 2030 to end Open Defecation as Ntaro’s PhD Examines Kabale’s Progress
-
Agriculture & Environment1 week agoUganda Martyrs Namugongo Students Turn Organic Waste into Soap in an Innovative School Project on Sustainable Waste Management
-
General4 days ago76th Graduation Highlights
-
General1 week agoMastercard Foundation Scholars embrace and honour their rich cultural diversity