At 24, Yvonne Kembabazi is steering two careers at the Mukono-based Uganda Christian University (UCU).
Having missed out on her dream course of medicine, she settled for a bachelor of Business Computing at UCU – something she has never regretted.
“After failing to get the medicine course, I vowed to excel at my course. From day one, I studied extremely hard and worked towards getting the best grades ever,” says Kembabazi, in an interview with The Observer.
Her efforts paid off handsomely as she graduated in 2015 with a first-class degree, which earned her a position of teaching assistant in the business computing department in the faculty of Business and Administration.
Prior to that, Kembabazi had applied and qualified for a paid-for internship position in the university’s financial aid office, where she handles students on various scholarship schemes. She also offers moral support and counseling to financially-strained students.
BACKGROUND
Born in October, 1992 to Dr Charles Kahigiriza, the current head teacher of Ndejje secondary school, and Stella Kebirungi Kahigiriza, a teacher of French at Masaka secondary school, Kembabazi is the firstborn of five.
The cheerful Kembabazi can’t hold back her big smile as she narrates to The Observer the day she was born.
“My mother compares my birth to that of Jesus Christ,” smiles Kembabazi.
According to her parents, they had travelled to Kampala from Masaka to run a couple of errands, and go back the following day. Her parents were offered accommodation by a family friend in Lubowa, and it was that night that her mother got into labour.
A midwife who lived next door to her parents’ host delivered her mother. But since she had travelled without anything for the baby’s delivery, people from around the neighborhood brought in presents and money for the baby.
Kembabazi, who was raised in Masaka, attended Uganda Martyrs primary school, Masaka, but completed her primary school education at Bright Grammar School in Masaka where she scored aggregate 4 to join Gayaza high school for O-level. She completed her A-level at Maryhill high school.
Kembabazi started her master’s degree in Business Administration this month at UCU, and she has plans of growing her career in management and academia.
“I know there are many people out there, but I think I can make a good contribution too,” says Kembabazi, who is following in her father’s footsteps.
“My dad is my inspiration. He tells me to be better than him,” says Kembabazi.
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Despite having a lot up her sleeve at her tender age, Kembabazi has also ventured into goat-rearing. She is also considering venturing into piggery.
“Sometimes, I feel like I cheat Yvonne of her time, but I do find time to engage in leisure activities,” smiles Kembabazi, who loves dancing and listening to music.
She loves listening to country music for the soothing effect it has on her, but also enjoys Naija (Nigerian) and gospel music. In her free time, Kembabazi enjoys knitting for leisure. Another pastime activity that she picked up from her mother is baking; which she also does as a side business.
“I love eating ice cream and I get high on chocolate,” she says, laughing and explaining that a bar of Cadbury chocolate is guaranteed to lift her spirits no matter how low they could be.
FAITH
As a committed Christian, Kembabazi’s favorite verse is Phillipians 4:13: ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’.
“This has been my guiding principle whenever I have thoughts that I can’t cope anymore. I am not afraid to say that all that I have achieved has been through God’s grace,” she says.
Just like any woman who hopes to settle down and raise a family one day, Kembabazi is dating someone whom she prefers to keep out of the media.
“He is hardworking and God-fearing. He complements and understands me,” Kembabazi says, blushing.
Her message to the girls out there is loud and clear: “You can make it. All you have to do is trust God, surround yourself with people of value and your past should not determine your future.”
pbaike@yahoo.com
