With aggregate 9, Gerald Ssemanda emerged one of the best students from the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) at St. Balikuddembe Senior Secondary School in Kisoga, Mukono district.
A son to Cissy Nanyondo and Richard Ssenyange of Kisoga town, Ssemanda says that following the poor financial conditions in which his parents were in from the time of his birth, it forced Compassion International to take him on from when he was just three months to date.
Ssenyondo is among the beneficiaries under Kisoga Child Development Centre. He says that it’s because of that background that he studied so hard not to disappoint his funders.
“I also want to be successful in life so that I can be able to liberate my parents from poverty. If I become somebody in future after my education, I will be able to make them something. All their future dreams lies under my coat,” he said.
Ssenyondo scored distinction 1 in Chemistry, Biology, Luganda, ICT and Christian Religious Education. For Physics it’s a credit 3 whereas History and Geography it’s a division 2.
He said that he used all of his time unsparingly as he had a clear goal from day one. He is optimistic that with the grade he scored, he is going for Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and ICT at A level. His dream career is becoming a data scientist.
He further acknowledges Compassion International saying that apart from the school fees and all personal requirements, they have also been footing his medical bills.
Charles Kato Nsubuga, the school director of studies said that out of 183 candidates, 107 got first grade and the rest second grade.
St. Balikuddembe Senior Secondary School is a Catholic Church founded school which falls under Lugazi diocese. It is headed by Lydia Lukwago Kagoya, an experienced educationist.