Irene Nakitende fought fate and beat the exams

Mar 31, 2002

Had it not been for her school mates, Irene Nakitende may never have sat her ‘O’ level exams. Losing her guardian in S4, it took fellow students to keep her in school. They used their pocket money to raise her school fees.

The best S4 candidate at Christ the King SS is remembered for her hardwork, and cheerful natureRakaiHad it not been for her school mates, Irene Nakitende may never have sat her ‘O’ level exams. Losing her guardian in S4, it took fellow students to keep her in school. They used their pocket money to raise her school fees. Eddie Ssejjoba reports from Rakai.WHEN Irene Nakitende lost her parents at a tender age, she never dreamed of going back to school let alone excelling. But in the 2001 ‘O’ level Nakitende emerged the second in Rakai district. She scored aggregate 16 in eight subjects. But to those who knew her, it came as no surprise. Classmates and teachers say she was one of the most hardworking students at Christ the King Secondary School in Bulinda, Rakai district. Nakitende, 18 years, healthy and pretty did not appear to have any problems when Education Vision interviewed her last year. She always tried to fit in and was happy and cheerful. Students remember her as friendly and kind to almost every one at school. She was the darling of the students. Many of them sought her out for academic assistance.She was bright and shared her skills with others. She was always serious at her studies, which not surprisingly, enabled her to beat all the odds, to become one of the best ‘O’ level students in Rakai district. She almost dropped out of school when her guardian died last year. She was in S4. Her father, Angella Magala, passed away in 1989 before Nakitende began school. Magala, a surveyor by profession and resident of Ssenyange village in Masaka Municipality, was hit by the infamous AIDS scourge. Barely a year later, his wife Teopista Nantongo, followed suit. They left behind at least nine helpless children. Luckily, they all got shared between relatives. Nakitende was taken in by her uncle, Joseph Ssemwogerere, who lived at Kamaggwa in Kalisizo sub county, Rakai. He paid her fees till her first year (S1) at Christ the King SS. As fate would have it, Ssemwogerere also got sick and passed away. Nakitende was orphaned for the second time. She was left in the care of Ssemwogerere’s wife, Annet and another uncle, one Mukiibi.Unfortunately, Mukiibi also fell ill and died in 2001 when she was in S4. Nakitende got the biggest blow in her young life. The death of her uncle spelt the end of there schooling. When she left her classroom to bury her uncle, Nakitende thought she would never enter a classroom again. Several students accompanied her for burial and, most of them were overcome by grief. On their return, the students vowed to sacrifice whatever they could save from their pocket money to see their friend return for to school. The students had a Charity Ministry, an organisation to which Nakitende was a member. The leaders sat and for the first time decided to start fundraising for the girl. It worked. They quickly mobilised funds and approached teachers and parents too. They raised the required sh189,400 for a term and sent for their friend. “I couldn’t believe this, for it had never happened. Just as I had given up, someone came and told me I must return to school,” she recalls.She went back to school and managed to settle down, but the psychological torture remained. She was among students who came from well off families. They had everything they needed. “I kept myself in prayer whenever I faced any big challenge, and I would finally overcome it,” she confides. Her teachers said she was a dedicated girl, close to everybody, disciplined and cooperative.Nakitende continued getting some assistance from her late uncles’ wives, Agnes Mukiibi and Annet Ssemwogerere. Both widows loved her and took her in. She would go to both homes during holidays.At school, the students continued being good to her, sharing with her all their essential items. With God’s help, her dedication and efforts, she came up top, and everybody said she deserved it. “What I’m only worried about is where I will go after completing my ‘O’ level, I’m not yet sure what will come next after getting through this”, she said.ends

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});