Jamaican sponsored Masaka star student
Feb 05, 2005
NELSON Kankaka, Masaka’s second best student in the 2004 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination was herding goats at a rural farm in Ssembabule, when he got the news that he was one of the best five in the district.
By Eddie Ssejjoba
NELSON Kankaka, Masaka’s second best student in the 2004 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination was herding goats at a rural farm in Ssembabule, when he got the news that he was one of the best five in the district.
Kankaka lost his father, a soldier, in 1989. He grew up under his grandmother, Erusa Nakayiki, in Rakai district.
His brilliance earned him sponsorship from Jackie Taylor, a Jamaican lady, working with Windows of Hope.
“I do not know why this lady picked me, but she liked me so much that she asked my grandmother to allow her take me to her home in Masaka town, where I have lived ever since,†he said.
Kankaka joined Good Hope Primary School in Nyendo, where he scored aggregate five in the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and joined St Henry’s College, Kitovu.
“Reports from my school encouraged my sponsor to provide me everything I needed. She was very happy when she got the news that I had been among the best students in the district,†he said.
Wesley Fodge, the husband of his sponsor, found him from their farm in Mateete, Ssembabule where he was looking after goats.
“This is my family, though I visit my mother and grandmother during holidays. I spend most of the time with Taylor and her family and at Good Hope,†he said.
The director of his former primary school, Lubega Zaake, had already asked him to train his pupils in computer skills as part of his holiday programme after learning that he was computer literate.
“Although I knew I would do well, I never expected to be among the best in the district. All I know is that God did it for me,†said the born again young man.
Kankaka particularly thanked his teachers, who he said guided him.
He has his eyes on medicine as he draws inspiration from Dr Carson Ben’s motivational books. He says his humble background gave him the impetus to go on even in the thick of circumstances.
“Everytime I read Ben’s books, I related them so perfectly with my experience. Somehow, I knew I could make it too, just like other students from a humble background.
Zaake said Kankaka was one of their best students in primary and kept monitoring him.
NELSON Kankaka, Masaka’s second best student in the 2004 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examination was herding goats at a rural farm in Ssembabule, when he got the news that he was one of the best five in the district.
Kankaka lost his father, a soldier, in 1989. He grew up under his grandmother, Erusa Nakayiki, in Rakai district.
His brilliance earned him sponsorship from Jackie Taylor, a Jamaican lady, working with Windows of Hope.
“I do not know why this lady picked me, but she liked me so much that she asked my grandmother to allow her take me to her home in Masaka town, where I have lived ever since,†he said.
Kankaka joined Good Hope Primary School in Nyendo, where he scored aggregate five in the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) and joined St Henry’s College, Kitovu.
“Reports from my school encouraged my sponsor to provide me everything I needed. She was very happy when she got the news that I had been among the best students in the district,†he said.
Wesley Fodge, the husband of his sponsor, found him from their farm in Mateete, Ssembabule where he was looking after goats.
“This is my family, though I visit my mother and grandmother during holidays. I spend most of the time with Taylor and her family and at Good Hope,†he said.
The director of his former primary school, Lubega Zaake, had already asked him to train his pupils in computer skills as part of his holiday programme after learning that he was computer literate.
“Although I knew I would do well, I never expected to be among the best in the district. All I know is that God did it for me,†said the born again young man.
Kankaka particularly thanked his teachers, who he said guided him.
He has his eyes on medicine as he draws inspiration from Dr Carson Ben’s motivational books. He says his humble background gave him the impetus to go on even in the thick of circumstances.
“Everytime I read Ben’s books, I related them so perfectly with my experience. Somehow, I knew I could make it too, just like other students from a humble background.
Zaake said Kankaka was one of their best students in primary and kept monitoring him.