Wonder boy Agaba has no fees

By Anthony Mugeere CHOICE Agaba is so articulate, one would think he has ever attended public speaking classes. The soft-spoken boy speaks slowly and deliberately as he narrates the strange but true story of his academic life that has earned him the nickname, "The wonder boy." At 13, Agaba is already in Senior Three. Six years ago, however, he was a Primary One pupil in rural Kyotera Central Primary School, Rakai district. But he studied Primary One for only one term and was promoted to P2. He came first in class in both terms, prompting the school administration to promote him to Primary Four. Agaba came second in class at the end of each of the three terms, despite the fact that he had skipped Primary Three. In 1997, he went to P5 and continued with his excellent performance. He came 1st , 3rd and 2nd in class during the first, second and third terms, respectively. The following year, Agaba sat the Primary Leaving Examinations while in P6 and scored aggregate 7. "The idea to skip classes was conceived by my uncle because he didn't have the money to pay my school fees if I had gone through all the classes. I don't think I am a genius, because my uncle who is a teacher used to coach me at home in order to catch up with what I had missed," says Agaba, who would actually be preparing to sit PLE this year. Born on January 8, 1988, Agaba was the first of two children of the family of Rose Byaruhanga of Nyakajeri village, Rukungiri district. His father, a former clerical officer in the Ministry of Education and Sports, died in 1992 while the mother passed away two years later. Agaba has since been under the care of his parternal uncle who is also unemployed. "I had been given a place at Greenhill Academy for Senior One but failed to join because my uncle didn't have the money for school fees. He decided that I join City Star Secondary School in Namuwongo," says Agaba. For the "wonder boy", school fees has always been a big problem. He was forced to quit City Star SS after only two terms when his uncle failed to raise the sh100,000 required per term. The school is still holding his end of term reports until he pays the sh200,000 he still owes them. Agaba decided to join Uphill College, Mbuya, but his uncle has again failed to pay the sh140,000 required per term. "The boy has the potential to go further with his studies but I am now stranded," says his uncle, Moses Abi. "I had a bar and restaurant business in Kibuli but it collapsed. Everything I have tried has failed, yet I'm also doing a course in computer studies," he adds. A teacher at Uphill College says the administration has for some time been patient with Agaba because he is hardworking and of good conduct. "We keep sending him home but he comes back to us saying he has failed to get the money. The boy has a bright future though we have no alternative but to send him away," he explained. On his part, Agaba is determined to fulfill his childhood dream - become a medical doctor or lawyer. He is good at both arts and science subjects though literature is his most favourite. The "wonder boy" does not know whether he will return to school next term. He has sought sponsorship from various sources but it has not been forthcoming. Will he realise his dream? He can, if a good samaritan comes to his rescue. Ends