Grace Mbabazi who obtained 13 aggregates was the best female student in Kagadi District in the 2022 Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams results that were released last week.

The youngster, who comes from a humble background in the neighbouring Kakumiro District, is ready for Advanced Level studies from where she aspires to become a rural transformation specialist at university in order to help many people come out of poverty.

Grace Mbabazi sat the Ordinary Level exams from the Girls Secondary School in Kagadi Town Council under the Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT-I) umbrella.

Mbabazi’s good performance in the Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) exams was not a big surprise since she also scored 10 Aggregates in the Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) four years earlier

Mbabazi says during holidays, she was heavily involved in her parents’ income generating projects at home, including agriculture, piggery, poultry, cattle rearing, apiary and hand on skills. Through these, her parents raised money which they used to pay her O’ level tuition and other fees.

She attributes her success to discipline, hard work, research, guidance and committed staff at the URDT Girls’ Secondary School.

Janet Nyamahunge, the Deputy Head teacher of URDT Girls Secondary School, says she was not surprised that Mbabazi turned as the best UCE student in Kagadi district because she is disciplined, is hard working and deeply committed to her studies.

Robert Katabazi, the Director of Education and Training URDT, says they give students not only academic knowledge but also hand on skills, to enable them be self-reliant after school.

Mbabazi’s father Yafesi Rwatoro, says his daughter is disciplined and does not despise any work at home which means she participated in raising her own schools fees.

Patience Akampulira, a former student URDT Girls SS says Mbabazi is an inspiration to many girls in the school neighbourhood and Kagadi Town Council in general.

Mbabazi’s parents commended the founder of Uganda Rural Development and Training Institute (URDT-I), Dr. Mwalimu Musheshe who is also the Vice Chancellor of African Rural University, for helping disadvantaged children in rural areas access quality education.