Kabale's UACE prodigy ponders career choice between Art and Music
Students at St. Mary's College School - Rushoroza celebrate Derrick Atwijuka for scoring 19 points in the 2024 UACE Exams, in Kabale Municipality on March 14, 2025. PHOTO/OBED KANKIRIHO
What you need to know:
- State Minister of Finance, Henry Musasizi, urged parents to play an active role in guiding their children's academic choices.
A Senior Six student who scored 19 points in the 2024 Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams at St. Mary’s College School - Rushoroza in Kabale District is uncertain about which course to pursue at university.
Derrick Atwijuka, who studied a combination of RAM/ICT at A-Level, told Monitor that he is torn between two career paths: Industrial Art and the music Industry.
"I haven't yet decided on which course to take, but my dream has always been to become a top industrial artist. I have two options: joining the art industry or the music industry," Atwijuka remarked.
Despite his uncertainty, Atwijuka attributed his excellent performance to determination and a desire to challenge stereotypes about his subject combination.
"I was determined to succeed, and that’s why I scored 19 points. Many students underestimate this combination, but I wanted to prove that it is just as valuable as any other," he said.
The Deputy head teacher in charge of Administration at St. Mary’s College School - Rushoroza, Ms Magrate Twebaze, credited the outstanding results to a culture of teamwork between students and teachers.
"Our beloved head teacher Monday Christopher worked tirelessly to instill discipline among students. He introduced the slogan ‘Teamwork for Excellence,’ which has been the foundation of our success," Ms Twebaze stated.
Other top performers at Kigezi High School in Kabale Municipality also shared their aspirations.
Esther Abaho, who scored 19 points in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics (BCM)/ICT, dreams of becoming a doctor.
"My academic journey has been full of ups and downs, especially due to financial constraints. I am grateful to the Nzeyi Foundation, which has supported my education from Senior Two to Senior Six. My first choice at Makerere University is Medicine," Abaho said.
Nickson Mugarura, who scored 20 points in History, Economics, Divinity (HED)/ICT, aspires to be a lawyer.
"I attribute my success to teamwork with my classmates. We had strong unity, loved our teachers, and engaged in endless discussions. The numerous tests we took exposed us to different question approaches. I look forward to joining law school," Mugarura stated.
Kigezi High School head teacher Abraham Akampurira attributed the school’s excellent performance to discipline, hard work, and teamwork.
"As a school, we aim for the highest levels of academic excellence. That is our goal and our prayer," he said as he celebrated the school’s 2024 UACE performance.
Minister advises on career paths
However, speaking at the graduation ceremony of 250 students at Rubanda Technical Institute in Kandiihe Village, Nyaruhanga Ward, Rubanda Town Council, Rubanda District on Saturday, the State Minister of Finance, Henry Musasizi, urged parents to play an active role in guiding their children's academic choices.
"When your child says they want to pursue a degree, ask them how relevant it will be in today's competitive job market. In the 1990s, gaining admission to Makerere University was a source of pride, especially in areas like Rubanda. However, times have changed. When we look at economies like China's, we see that many people working in factories do not have degrees, but they possess valuable skills. I urge parents to emphasize career paths that lead directly to employment," he added.
Minister Musasizi emphasized that the government has identified key sectors for job creation, including agro-processing, manufacturing, services (such as hotels, banks, and tourism), science, and technology.
"The jobs are in agro-processing, manufacturing, services, science, and technology. Do social sciences apply in agro-processing? Can you use community psychology in science and technology? Do social sciences contribute to agriculture? The answer is no. Therefore, we encourage the youth to acquire skills that align with the job market," Minister Musasizi stated.
He advised students to pursue courses that equip them with skills relevant to the job market, rather than those that may lead to prolonged job searches, particularly in the social sciences.
About UACE 2024
At least 92,273 candidates who sat for the 2024 UACE examinations qualify for university admission, compared to 80,816 in 2023, while 48,570 students will miss out on university admission after failing to obtain the required two principal passes, according to the results released on Friday by the Uganda National Examinations Board (UNEB).
More stories on UACE 2024 results:
UACE 2024 results:Uneb urges government to strengthen STEM education
UACE 2024 results:Performance drops as candidate numbers surge
