52-year-old man defies stigma, among UCE candidates

Iganga,

A 52-year-old man in Iganga District is among thousands of students sitting this year’s Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations.

Mr George Waiswa defied stigma of going to school at such an advanced age and said he missed the opportunity when he was young due to lack of school fees.

“I had stopped in Senior One due to lack of school fees but after becoming a pastor, I had to return to school to be able to speak and preach in English,” Mr Waiswa said.

He is among the 159 candidates at Bugweri College School, Busesa village in Buyanga Sub-county.

When we visited the school on Tuesday, Mr Waiswa was in the examination room sitting for chemistry practicals.

A resident of Idudi Town, Waiswa later told Daily Monitor his pastoral work demands networking with different people but he faced language barrier and was compelled to learn to speak English.

“For the three years I have been in school, I can now speak good English and when I pass exams, I plan to continue up to university,” Waiswa said.

He said by going to school at an old age, he has encountered some challenges.

“I have to board a taxi every day to travel to and from the school and being a man, I also have to cater for the family,” he said.

Mr Sulait Kafeero, Waiswa’s classmate, said he is inspired by the old man’s returning to school and he now values education as a springboard to success.

Mr Herbert Kayonga, the school head teacher, said Waiswa is the eldest student but focused and determined.

“People should know that at any age you can achieve your ambitions. The case of George shows that education has no age limit,” Kayonga said.