The just-released Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education results have highlighted the
achievements of several young refugees who overcame difficult circumstances to excel
academically.
One such student is Jackson Mandela, who fled the civil war in South Sudan with his family and arrived in Uganda in 2017.
Despite the trauma of his parent’s divorce and the challenges of living in a refugee settlement, Mandela was determined to succeed and enrolled in a local school.
He later secured a half scholarship to study at the Leadership Academy of South Sudan, where he learned the Ugandan syllabus.
Although he found it challenging to adapt, Mandela
persevered and eventually scored 20 points in his HED/CST subject combination. He plans to pursue a business course in the future.
Mandela is not the only refugee who achieved academic success in the UACE exams. Kennedy Ladu and Stella Eunice John also scored 20 points each and have ambitious plans for their future careers.
Ladu, who wants to become a lawyer, recalls how he was motivated by the
privilege of wealthy students at his school who looked down on refugees like him.
Meanwhile, Stella Eunice John hopes to become a medical doctor and address the shortage of healthcare professionals in her home country.
The success of these refugee students is especially noteworthy given the difficult circumstances they faced.
Many of them grew up in poverty and had to work hard to support themselves and
their families.
Despite these challenges, they remained focused on their education and were
able to achieve excellent results. Their achievements highlight the importance of providing
educational opportunities to all young people, regardless of their background or circumstances.
