MEET OUR SCHOLARS… Secondary Students 9th- 12th grade

Donatina Nakimuli

Dona is from the where her father is a primary school teacher in Sanja and her mother a subsistence farmer. She is the fifth of nine children. Dona joined EAC in 2009 and toured with Spirit of in 2010, 2012 and 2014. She is in Secondary 2 (9th grade). Dona is the top of her class at Bethany High School and recognized by her teachers for her great potential and positive attitude. She is excited to run for a leadership position in the student government when she qualifies next year. She would like to become a nurse, so that she can help people who are sick.

Brian Mulindwa

Brian comes from a family of four children. He lost his father in 2007, and his mother works as a tailor. Before joining Empower African Children in 2011, Brian received some scholastic materials from an uncle, but was often sent away from school for not paying his school fees on time. Through the support of Empower African Children, Brian is in Senior 3 (10th grade) at Bethany High School. Brian is social and very helpful. He is always eager to explore and learn new things. Brian’s brother Bernard is also supported by Empower African Children.

Faith Ruth Nabukenya

Faith is from the in central Uganda. She is the oldest of five children. Her mother cleans offices, and her father has trouble finding work. Faith joined Empower African Children in 2011 and toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2012 and 2014. Faith is now in Senior 3 (10th grade) at Bethany High School. Faith is a very bright young girl and beautiful dancer. She hopes to own a business one day.

Florence Namuyomba

Florence is from the District in central Uganda, one of the major war zones in the early 80s. Florence has never met her mother, and her father is a builder. She has three siblings. Florence is currently in Senior 3 (10th grade) at Bethany High School. Florence is a very bright girl and eager learner. Her teachers and peers recognize her as the “spokesperson” amongst her friends always prepared to take on a challenge and find a solution. She currently holds a leadership position as the library prefect on campus. She enjoys dancing. In the future, Florence would like to become a very good mother who loves all her children and cooks for them all.

Anthony Kiranda

Anthony is from the Nakisenyi village in eastern Uganda where his parents are subsistence farmers. His three siblings also live with other members of his extended family in the village. Anthony joined Empower African Children in 2009 and toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2012 and 2014. Anthony is in Senior 5 (11th grade) at Greenhill School, where he excels in math and science. He hopes to become an accountant.

Yudaya Nabbanja

Yudaya is from the near . Before joining Empower African Children in 2009, Yudaya lived with her paternal aunt and four siblings. She is in Senior 5 (11th grade) at Taibah International School. She toured with Spirit of Uganda in 2010, 2012 and 2014. Yudaya is a leader at school and a great student. She hopes to become a surgeon in the future.

Hassan Onegu-Rwoth

Hassan is from a slum in Kampala and one of five children. He lost his father in 2007. His mother sells produce in Kampala. Hassan joined Empower Afriacn Children in 2012 and traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour. He is a very bright, motivated young man. He is in Senior 5 (11th grade) at Bethany High School. Hassan currently holds a leadership position as the sports prefect on campus. Hassan loves sports and hopes to become a journalist some day.

Milton Agaba

Milton is from Kampala and one of four children. Milton lost his father in 2001, and his mother sells corn to provide for her children. He joined Empower African Children in 2012, and he is in Senior 5 (11th grade) at Bethany High School. She currently holds a leadership position as the entertainment prefect on campus. His favorite subject is history, because he enjoys writing essays and reading stories. He’d like to be a lawyer in the future.

Patrick Ssengendo

Patrick is from Namayumba. Before joining Empower African Children in 2012, Patrick was cared for by his step mother who supported many children. Patrick completed primary school at the top of his class, and he is now in Senior 5 (11th grade) at Greenhill School. Patrick’s favorite subject in school is chemistry, and he wants to be a doctor someday.

Merunisha Babirye

Merunisha is from the Rakai District in southern Uganda. She lost both of her parents to HIV/AIDS. Before joining Empower African Children in 2009, she lived with her maternal grandmother. Merunisha is in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Taibah International School. She loves school and works really hard at her academics. She hopes to become a teacher one day.

Rajab Basoga

Rajab is from Nakisenyi in eastern Uganda and is the fifth of thirteen children. His father makes chapati (flat bread), and his mother cooks in a restaurant. Rajab joined Empower African Children in 2007, and he toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. He is in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Bethany High School, where he is in the top of his class. Rajab loves dancing, singing and drumming, talents that run in his family. He hopes to become a choreographer.

Frank Isabirye

Before joining Empower African Children in 2011, Frank lived with his parents, grandfather and six siblings in a small, two-room house. His parents are subsistence farmers and cannot afford to pay his school fees. Frank travelled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour, and is now in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Taibah International School. He is an eager learner and exhibits great leadership skills.

Bernard Muwonge

Bernard is from the in central Uganda. He lost his father, and his mother is a tailor. Bernard joined Empower African Children in 2011 and traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour. He is in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Taibah International School. He was selected as Class Leader at school and now heads up the Chess Club. His favorite subject is math. Bernard’s brother Brian is also supported by Empower African Children.

Betty Nabaweesi

Betty is the oldest of six children. She lost her father in 2009, and her mother is very young . Betty’s family lives in a single room house, and her mother barely makes enough money to feed the family. Through the support of Empower African Children, Betty is now in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Taibah International School. She traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour. Betty has a warm personality and takes initiative as a leader.

Joyce Nagujja

Joyce is from Makindye, a neighborhood in Kampala, where she lived with her aunt and six siblings before joining Empower African Children in 2011. Her father died in a car accident, and her mother died of an unknown illness. Joyce is in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Taibah International School. She toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2012 and 2014. She has been a class leader and managed to be the student of the week several times and hopes to continue on the same track. She would like to be a bank manager in the future.

Miriam Namala

Miriam is the second of four children from the Rakai District in southern Uganda. Her mother is a subsistence farmer. Miriam has never met her father. Miriam is in Senior 6 (12th grade) at Taibah International School, where she is in the top of her class and holds various leadership positions. She is very confident and always smiling. She enjoys games and traveling abroad as well as dancing and singing. She toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. She hopes to become an architect.

Ivan Ogambo

Ivan is one of five children and lived in a one-room house with his mother and siblings before joining Empower African Children in 2011. Ivan’s father died when he was six years old. His mother braids hair and babysits for her neighbors, but never has a consistent source of income. She struggles to pay school fees for her children and medical bills for her eldest son who has special needs. With the support of Empower African Children, Ivan attends Taibah International School. Ivan traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour, and he is currently in Senior 6 (12th grade). He is a very bright young man.

Post Secondary Vocational Students

Suzan Mutunda

Suzan is one of nine children and lost her father when she was five years old. Her mother suffers from health problems. Her family of ten live in a two-room house. Before joining Empower African Children in 2011, Suzan and her siblings worked in the garden with their mother to help support the family. Only three of her eight siblings are able to attend school. Suzan is in has completed high school and is studying fashion design at a vocational school. Suzan is a very kind young lady and eager to learn.

Kuluthum Aketch

Kuluthum is from Kibuli in Kampala and the youngest of four children. She has lost both of her parents. Before joining Empower African Children in 2012, she lived with her paternal aunt. Kuluthum was among the best students in her primary school and was one of the best leaders, too! Kuluthum traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour, and she has completed high school. She is currently in a vocational school studying fashion design.

Percy Nakaggwa

Percy is from the Rakai District in southern Uganda. She lost both of her parents to HIV/AIDS in 2000. Before joining Empower African Children in 2009, Percy lived with her paternal grandfather and many cousins. Percy toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2010, 2012, and 2014. She has completed high school and is currently in a vocational school studying cosmetology and catering. She loves music and reading, and enjoys dancing.

Violet Nakasule

Violet and her sister lost both of their parents to HIV/AIDS in 2007. Before joining Empower African Children in 2011, Violet was cared for by an aunt who earned money from odd jobs and handouts from another relative. She has completed high school and is currently in a vocational school studying cosmetology and catering. Violet’s smile and warm personality make her a joy to be around.

Sylvia Namaganda

Sylvia is the eldest of eight siblings. Her parents are subsistence farmers but do not bring in enough income to provide for the family. Sylvia joined Empower African Children in 2009 and traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour. She has completed high school and is currently in a vocational school studying cosmetology and catering. Sylvia is very compassionate and a good listener.

Daniel Tashobya

Daniel is from a village in Mbarara in western Uganda. He is the eldest of two children. Both Daniel’s parents died of AIDS, his father in 1997 and his mother in 1998. Before joining Empower African Children in 2007, Daniel raised money for his school fees by dancing with a local dance troupe. Daniel has completed high school and is studying carpentry at a vocation school. Daniel has served in many leadership roles at school.

University Students

Tonny Lwerere

Tonny is one of four children, and his parents earn a small income through farming and working in a shop. They cannot afford to pay school fees for their children. Tonny joined Empower African Children in 2011 and traveled on the 2014 Spirit of Uganda tour. He graduated high school last year and began university this August where he is studying industrial art. Tonny is a great dancer and wonderful public speaker.

Teddy Nammudu

Teddy is from Rubaga, a neighborhood in Kampala. Teddy’s father died when she was three years old. Her mother is HIV positive and lives in Rugaba with Teddy’s six siblings. Teddy joined Empower African Children in 2007, and she is now in her second year of University at Nkumba University. Teddy is a very bright, caring young lady.

Munawiru Jengo

Jengo is from Mutukula, a trading town on the southern border of Uganda and Tanzania. He is the youngest of three children. His mother works for his uncle as a shop attendant. His father died of HIV/AIDS. Jengo joined Empower African Children in 2007, and he is now pursuing a degree in Tour Operations Management.

Sharon Kyomugisha

Sharon is the second oldest of four children from the village of Lungujja in Kampala. She lost her father to HIV/AIDS and her HIV-positive mother struggles to care for the family. Sharon joined Empower African Children in 2009 and toured with Spirit of Uganda in 2010, 2012 and 2014. She is currently in university studying social sciences. Sharon is a bright student who loves to study. She hopes to become a journalist, because she likes to share other people’s stories and experiences. She currently has an internship at the top radio station in Uganda.

George Lukwago

George is from the Masaka District in central Uganda. He has five siblings and lost his parents at a young age. George joined Empower African Children in 2011 and toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2012 and 2014. He is in his final year of university studying agricultural business. He was awarded a scholarship to complete his studies interning on a flower farm in Israel.

Zahara Nabakka

Zahara is from Makerere. When she lost her father in 2000, her mother sent her to live with her paternal grandmother. Before she joined Empower African Children in 2009, Zahara was helping her grandmother wash students’ clothes at Makerere University to raise money for her school fees. She is now in her final year at university studying industrial organization psychology. Zahara is a brilliant girl and very social.

John Nyanzi

John has seven siblings. His father works as a farmer, and his mother sells handmade crafts. Both of his parents suffer from health problems that make it very difficult to earn a steady income and provide for their family. John joined Empower African Children in 2011. John is a very smart, young man. He is completing his final year of study at Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology.

Brian Odong

Brian is from Gulu in northern Uganda, an area strongly impacted by rebels. The youngest of four children, Brian lost his mother at birth and his father was killed by rebels in 2004. Brian joined Empower African Children in 2007, and he toured with the Spirit of Uganda in 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2014. He loves to perform because it’s the best way he can express his feelings and touch people positively. Brian is in his final year at the Makerere University Business School.

Solace Ataho

Solace is from Nyakahita in southwestern Uganda where his seven siblings and extended family still live. Solace joined Empower African Children in 2009 and toured with Spirit of Uganda in 2010 and 2012. Solace is in his final year of university studying Tourism Operations Management.