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If you ask any student the secret of their success in the UNEB exams, the most common answer you get is hard work, good teachers, and God’s grace. 

Makerere College School’s (MACOS) UACE super-star Nanfuka Sylvia Namiiro nonetheless gave  an interesting answer which is not so common.  

She attributes her excellent performance to the school’s sincere commitment to the girl-child.

“During my stay at MACOS, I have had the privilege of being the Students’ Council’s Secretary for Women’s Affairs.  This has helped me a great deal to know the attention that the school gives to the girl-child. To us here at MACOS, it is a myth that people mistreat women. To be honest, I have never felt demeaned just because I am a girl. Girl-child issues are given great attention,” says Nanfuka.

Nanfuka got 20 points (Maths A, Entrepreneurship A, Economics A, ICT 4, GP 2). She wants to study Law, a profession she says will put her in a good position to promote the values of love, justice, and peaceful co-existence.

Nanfuka pays tribute to the school’s headteacher and his staff for giving the students positive freedom which she says has enabled her and her colleagues to do things with conviction as opposed to coercion.

“MACOS is a wonderful school. It gives you that freedom to be yourself. I mean, you are not pushed to do things. You are instead shown why you should do the things you have to do. I got the opportunity to know the way things are done at MACOS even before I joined it. I am now fully convinced that people should not be forced but helped to discover what they are.

MACOS is keen on discipline. But interestingly, discipline is not necessarily enforced by punishments, but by counselling. I have seen many students being transformed and producing good results as a result of counselling.”

Outside of academics, Nanfuka enjoys photography and videography.

Star Annet Atuhaire

Annet Atuhaire is another star from MACOS. She too got 20 points as follows:  History A, Entrepreneurship A, Divinity A, ICT 3, General Paper 6.

“Students’ academic discussions are a culture here. Every Tuesday we have an assembly during which we are also given words of encouragement. And if you perform well in the exams, the school rewards you,” says Atuhaire.

Atuhaire thanks her cousin, Mrs. Sharon Kamuganga Kagwisa who she says has been so supportive and caring to her.

“My dad died when I was still young. My other Violet Nyakato stays in the village in western Uganda. I have stayed with my cousin in Kampala all this time. I just pray that God blesses her,” says Atuhaire.

Atuhaire wants to become a lawyer to be in a better position to defend and win justice for those who are oppressed by unethical rich and powerful people. She is deeply hurt by those who grab poor people’s land, especially in the villages. Outside academics, Atuhaire enjoys singing.

The headteacher of Makerere College School, Martin Bisaso Muyingo is greatly impressed by the excellent performance of his students in the UACE exams.

He promises that the school will be even more committed to academic excellence, ethical values, and hard work.