“We Once Failed to Pay Fees, Now Our Children Study on Scholarships” A Family Tells Their Journey

My name is James Ssekabira, and I live with my wife, Allen, in Mukono District, Uganda. We have three children — two boys and a girl. Like most Ugandan parents, we strongly believe in the value of education. For years, we did everything possible to keep our children in school, even if it meant sacrificing our own needs. But in 2023, our situation worsened. I lost my job during company downsizing, while my wife’s small tailoring business was barely staying afloat.

By the start of the new school term, we had no solution left. We still owed fees from the previous term, and the head teacher warned that our children would not be allowed back without clearing the balance. That night, we wept together. My wife kept asking, “What future are we preparing for our children?” We sought help from relatives and friends, but everyone was struggling. I even approached a local moneylender, but the interest was impossible. The thought of our children missing out on education crushed us completely.TO READ MORE, TAP HERE