Meet Dr. Nagadya, her family of 49 children, volunteers

PEOPLE | NAGADYA | FAMILY

Dr. Catherine Nagadya Kiruyi, 31, is a wife and general surgeon at Kiruddu National Referral Hospital. 

She is also a health talk show host and founder of Girls Unstoppable Uganda, a not-for-profit organization that sponsors 49 needy but brilliant girls across the country. 

Good Samaritans contribute school fees and material support. Nagadya and her team ensure the girls engage in community work during holidays. 

Meanwhile, Nagadya was born and raised in Kyaayi village in the present day, Gomba district. Her parents Teddy and Edward Musisi are peasants and have been married for 40 years. Nagadya is the second last born of eight siblings.

She went to Kyaayi primary school. Her class was under a tree, and she used to sit on a mat. 

Whenever it rained, the pupils and teachers would scamper off looking for a safe place. 

She later moved to St. Aloysius Bukalagi primary school and St. Maria Goretti SSS, Katende for her O level and Mengo SSS for her A levels before joining Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) for a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery.

Thereafter, she pursued a Master of medicine in general surgery at Makerere University.

Nagadya with her daughter. (All Photos by Ritah Mukasa.

How she supports the girls

Nagadya founded Girls Unstoppable Uganda after her graduation in 2016.

She looks to sponsor 1,000 girls by 2026. The organization receives donations from family, friends and well-wishers in Uganda.

Some donate from as low as sh10, 000 per month while others offer scholastic materials, counselling and mentorship. 

She also organizes fundraising drives. Relatedly, part of the girl’s school fees comes from the organization’s production house in Mukono district. They make liquid soap, sanitisers and bar soap and also sell T-shirts, caps and branded mugs. 

Nagadya says, between August and September every year, she calls out for applications through social media, churches and associations that support her work.

Nagadya looks at educating 1000 girls by 2026.

These include; Worship Harvest ministries, Fountain for Change which is under Wells Mountain Initiative, Association of Surgeons of Uganda and Uganda Christians Medical fellowship among others.

“We work with over 65 virtual volunteers and we received 1200 applications in 2022  through which we selected the needy ones. After, we visit them to ascertain the extent of their need. We also talk to local leaders,” she explains.  

The beneficiaries are mandated to give 40 hours of voluntary work and community service. They clean villages, look after the elderly and volunteer in health centres.

They are also encouraged to start income-generating activities and save at least sh20, 000 per holiday.. 

“We instil in them the spirit of service above self, hard work and saving and we are strict on that. Each presents a detailed report before getting school fees,” she says.