I did more praying than reading - UCE star

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2019 UGANDA CERTIFICATE OF EDUCATION (UCE)

KAMPALA - Julia Grace Nantume has struggled with a chronic cough for most part of her young life. But that has not stopped her from aiming for the stars.

The determined 17-year-old from St. Joseph's SSS, Nagalama scored an aggregate of nine in the best done eight subjects in last year's Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams.

Nantume got to know her achievement on Friday, after the results were released by education and sports minister, First Lady Janet Museveni.

The results showed overall improved performance.

When it comes to specifics, the boys beat the girls generally, with the former outshining their female counterparts accross the board.

The girls, however, performed better than the boys in English Language. Nantume was part of this statistic.

Medication has been a central part of Nantume's life.

"This cough has given me a hard time - both at school and at home," she said after learning of her performance.

"At school, I could not do everything on my own. The weather would change all the time - it would become so difficult for me to concentrate," said Nantume.

"I prayed and prayed. I prayed more than I read books, I think."

Despite her health challenges, she trudged on.

Her steely approach to life eventually paid off. While sitting her final exams in October, the UNEB invigilators allowed her to enter the examination room with a thick sweater and a jacket, which helped a lot.

Her mother, Sylvia Nazzimbe, was as delighted as the teenager over her brillliant performance.

She thanked God for giving her child the strength she needed to pass her final exam.

Nazzimbe was always hurt knowing her daughter struggled with a chronic cough, but remained strengthened by the belief that she would succeed.

School fees was also another problem since she has a child at university.

"Beginning of term has always been the most stressing time so I needed to have around sh4m to send my two children to school. It was not easy," said Nazzimbe.

The Senior Five selection exercise will be on February 13 and 14.


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