They excelled in the 2000 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education

Rebecca Wapowo is Mbale's pride By Patrick Luganda One day she will be a judge. Then, her dream of defending people's rights and fighting corruption will be realised. Rebecca Wapowo Nagudi is 19 and has a tall order. Her dream is to step in the shoes of Lady Justices Leticia Kikonyogo and Julia Sebutinde. "I am going to work very hard and succeed in becoming a successful lawyer and enter the judicial system. I have always wanted to do law," says Nagudi. And what is there to stop her? She beat all the Arts candidates in Nabumali High School to emerge the best 'A' level candidate in Mbale district. She got an A in History, B in Economics, B in Geography, C in Divinity and a D2 in General Paper. Despite her excellent performance, Nagudi does not consider herself very clever. She attributes her relative success to hard working teachers at her school who were very helpful whenever they were consulted. The last born in a family of five girls and one boy, Nagudi lost her father when she was a toddler. Her mother, Christine Nambuya is a retired teacher living in Mbale. Faces can be deceptive. A first glance at Nagudi gives the impression of a shy village girl who is unable to express herself. Far from it. "The 1900 Buganda agreement was just a set of Johnson's suggestions. Actually the Baganda did not know what they wanted. There was a lot of confusion. When the missionaries tried to explain the meaning of the agreement they ended up distorting the facts...," lectures Nagudi. I steer her on impressed by her analysis of the fabled Buganda agreement. Nagudi has had a nomadic school life. From Nabongo Primary School in Sironko district, she went to Bugema Adventist Secondary School in Luwero district. She joined Nabumali High School for her 'A' level studies. The writing is on the wall. If Rebecca Nagudi joins Makerere University and her wish to pursue Law is granted, it is evident she will make a brilliant lawyer. Hopefully her dream to step in the shoes of the Lady Justices will come true. * * * Bushenyi's best Scientist longs for Medicine By Kyomuhendo Muhanga in Bushenyi NAUME Kyomugisha Bwita, the best Science candidate in Bushenyi district was married to books throughout her two years at Bweranyangi Girls School. She was also a God loving student, Ruth Sande, the school head has said. "Nothing could move Kyomugisha from her book. She had a special attachment to books. She was very quiet in class but very hardworking," Sande told the Education Vision. Kyomugisha, the sixth in a family of seven scored 3BBB in GP, Chemistry, Biology and Physics, respectively. She has set a record and broken the silence of science students in the history of Bweranyangi, Sande said. At home in Nyakagyeme, Rukungiri district, Kyomugisha is described as the "home daughter." "In her holidays she gets down to looking after the cattle. She loves doing any kind of work, her father James Bwita said. Kyomugisha never attended primary two. She was elevated to primary three after Primary one. "She almost got 100% in every subject in P1 and the teachers decided to put her in P3," Bwita said. Kyomugisha hopes to study Human Medicine at Makerere University. * * * Shamim Malende hopes her AAAA will lead her to the Faculty of Law By Elizabeth Kameo This year, the Malende family in Mbarara will celebrate 'A' level results just like they did last year and the year before that. Their daughter, Shamim was the best female candidate in Mbarara district in the 2000 UACE. Shamim has come a long way since she completed her 'O' levels at Buziga Islamic Theological Institute. Her score of aggregate 25 saw her in second division. The slender, soft-spoken girl could not believe it when she scored 7AAAA. She attended Aisha High School, Mbarara. Now her dream of following in her father's footsteps to read Law can be realised. She will be the fifth lawyer in the family. Three of her siblings are reading Law at Makerere University. "Of course I am excited. I wanted to be the best in Uganda but only managed to be the best in Mbarara district," said Shamim, the 16th in a family of 19 children. Born to Jamil Ssebuta Malende and Hadijja Nasuna of Kawempe, Shamim is a great believer in Islam. She attributes her success to hardwork and prayer. Talking about his daughter, Sheikh Kalanzi described her as a very disciplined, hardworking girl. "We knew she would perform very well since she has always been a promising student and was always among the best students at school," the proud father says. Shamim Malende the girl who loves History has not let the family down. Most importantly though, she has been faithful to herself and her dream. She can now look forward to joining Makerere University later this year. * * * Mbarara's Katwaza scored 3AABA By Kyomuhendo Muhanga in Mbarara The victory of Stanley Katwaza, the science wizard in western Uganda did not come as a surprise to the family, his father, Mzee James Ishanga told Education Vision. "The boy has always been in the lead. He scored aggregate six in his Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) taking the lead in western Uganda. He scored seven in six at his 'O' level becoming the first in the region. So this is not a surprise at all," Ishanga said. Katwaaza, who sat his 'A' level exams at Ntare School scored 3AABA making him the top Science candidate in the western region. When Education Vision tracked him down, he was found in a class at Trinity Secondary School in Rwashameire, several kilometres from his home teaching Physics. "I'm very happy with the results," Katwaaza told Education Vision as he looked up in praise of God. "God helped me much," he added. Katwaaza, 20, is born to a peasant, James Ishanga deep in the village of Nyongozi in Rwampara county, Mbarara district. He is the ninth child in a family of 10 children. "I'm born in the family of Arts but I decided to try Science for a change," he boasted. At his former school, Ntare, Katwaaza is little known by other students. "How could one know him? He was always hidden in books," one of his peers observed. "I fell in love with Civil Engineering when I was in Senior one. I have now realised my dream," Katwaza said happily. * * * Festus: Masindi's best Arts candidate By Kyetume Kasanga OLD habits die hard, so the saying goes. For Festus Akunobera, 19 the habit is to win, despite his humble background. Every time he attempts an exam he never falls below second position Being best candidate in Masindi district Akunobera has won himself a 14-inch colour television from his school. Excel High put up the TV as a prize for any student who excelled. The youngest of five boys and one girl, Akunobera came second best in PLE. He failed to make it to Kabalega Ss, Masindi where he had been admitted due to lack of school fees. He opted for a little-known private school, Bulindi Integrated for 'O' level. He emerged the only one with first grade in S4. Kabalega SS again admitted him but he failed to raise school fees! This time he was assisted by his former headteacher, Mr. Thomas Kagoro, to join Excel High, a private school. The school later gave him a bursary. He was at it again with A in History, Economics and Geography, and D in Divinity "I can't believe these results. They are not mine. I expected an A in Divinity. "I don't know the procedure for re-marking papers but I want my Divinity script remarked," Akunobera exclaimed. * * * "I am contented," says top candidate By Vision Reporter Father Deus Bukenya, the principal of Kitabi Seminary, Bushenyi, said his former student, Daniel Batwababo, 20, was cheated in the marking process. "I feel this boy was cheated in the marking process. I never expected him to get that," he told Education Vision. Baitwabaabo scored AACA in Arts and scooped the first position in Bushenyi district. "Daniel is a very organised boy I expected him to get quadra-triple 'A'. The boy has never got a B in any subject, the two years he has been with us here. I'm very disappointed," Bukenya said. However, when Education Vision tracked him down at his home in Rwampara, Baitwabaabo said he was very happy and contented with the results. "Although I expected to perform better than that, I am very happy with my performance. I'm going for a law course. I want to be a lawyer," he said happily. mood. His father, Januario Buzaare, 60, and the mother Febronia Banyangiraki said it was not an easy task to keep Baitwabaabo at school. "We cannot afford buying ourselves shoes now. You can see us," they said while seated next to each other out side a mud and wattle iron-roofed house. Baitwabaabo, a devout Catholic, read History, Economics, Geography and Divinity. * * * Kampala's best Arts candidate wants Mass Communication By Patrick Luganda She woke up early to make the trip from Entebbe to Kansanga in search of a job. She had been promised to work at a small hotel soon to open in the area. Unfortunately there was still no vacancy as yet. She had earlier been promised a job as a receptionist at the yet to exist Fidelity Guest House. There being no reception for the time being she was told to do a few odd chores before going away to show that she really wanted the job. She spent most of the day the results were announced, sweeping and cleaning at the hotel. The news that she was among the best 'A' level candidates in the country jolted her but failed to make her desert her chores till late afternoon. That is your Ruth Elvean Nawaguna. Simple as they come but tough and determined when it comes to academics. The best female student in Arts she scored AAAA and crowned it with a two in General Paper. She made mince meat of History, Economics, Geography and German. At school she was good at drama. "I was doing well but was surprised to come at the very top. By the time I left the examination room I was not too sure that I would excel. I am so glad," says Nawaguna. Sospeter Wabweyo, Nawaguna's father, danced for joy at the news of the success. Talking from his Uganda Revenue Office in Jinja, he says: "I feel great. I am a tough father and I encourage my children to work hard and be disciplined." Her stepmother, Eunice Wabweyo is overwhelmed. Eunice took over the care of little Ruth at the tender age of three years when Ruth's mother moved to Kenya to pursue another career. The love between the two women is evident. They fondly eye each other before bursting into girlish laughter. Ends