Mbarara, Uganda — Mary Namukisa, one of the 32nd cohort of graduates from Mbarara University of Science and Technology, describes her journey from village vendor and school cook to master’s degree recipient as “From humble beginnings to a life of impact.”
Namukisa’s path to a degree was marked by a six-year gap in her education after finishing the equivalent of primary school in 1999. She came from a family and community where no one had gone past primary education, and after briefly trying a tailoring course she could not afford, she worked as a village vendor, gardener, cook and cleaner to save money.
Her luck changed in 2005 when she got a job as a cook at Mityana Secondary School, earning 35,000 Ugandan shillings monthly. A year and a half later, a teacher, Betty Namale, noticed Namukisa’s interaction with students and asked why she was not in school. Namale shared the story with Head Teacher Godfrey Musuuza, who offered Namukisa a chance to return to the classroom.
Namukisa used her savings intended for a sewing machine to buy a uniform and school materials. She continued to work during holidays while studying.
During a break after her Senior Four exams, a new employer, Hawah Namusoke, hired her as a maid and later helped her secure a half-bursary to complete her Advanced Level education at Mityana Secondary School.
In 2012, Namukisa was admitted to Mbarara University of Science and Technology for a Bachelor of Nursing Science on government sponsorship. The program provided her with skills that led to opportunities with leading research institutions, including the Uganda Virus Research Institute/International AIDS Vaccine Initiative HIV Vaccine Program and the Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine Uganda Research Unit.
She now works as Research and Infrastructure Manager at the Global Health Collaborative, a partnership between the university and Massachusetts General Hospital in the United States.
In 2023, she enrolled in a Master of Public Health Research Ethics program at the university. Balancing the demanding program with her responsibilities as a single mother, business owner and full-time professional was challenging, but she credits the support of her lecturers, colleagues and supervisors, including her research supervisor, Prof. Gertrude N. Kiwanuka.
“Graduating with this incredible master’s degree on record time is a testimony that no dream is too big and no beginning too small,” Namukisa said. “My journey proves that with faith, determination, and support, anyone can rise beyond their circumstances and achieve greatness.”
