At 17, Nakubulwa Abigail Ruth’s life tells a powerful story of hardship, survival and hope.
She was born in Rakai and raised by her mother, Irene Kemigisha, who struggled to support her as a single parent. When life in the village became too difficult, the two travelled on a banana truck to Kampala in search of a better future. They settled in Kisenyi, where Irene sold odi, sim sim and groundnuts on the streets to earn a living.
Their lives changed suddenly during the 2016 presidential campaigns when riots broke out in the city. In the confusion, Irene was shot and taken away in an ambulance. Abigail never saw her again and was left alone with no known relatives to help her.
“I became an orphan that day,” Abigail recalls quietly. “I didn’t even know who my father was.”
Unable to pay rent and too young to live by herself, she was forced onto the streets. She survived by begging for food, picking leftovers from dustbins and doing small jobs like fetching water and collecting plastic bottles to sell. She slept in trenches and open spaces, often battling severe asthma attacks in the cold.
While living on the streets, she met another girl called Esther, and the two supported each other through the difficult days.
Her life began to change when she met Bashir Musaazi, whom the children called “Uncle Bashir.” Through his organisation, Africa Children’s Heart, he offered her and other vulnerable children a safe place to stay and a chance to return to school.
At the centre, Abigail joined traditional dance groups, learned practical skills like weaving, and regained confidence. During the Covid-19 school disruptions, the organisation helped her register for Primary Leaving Examinations, where she scored 13 aggregates and later joined Buloba Royal College.
In the recently released UCE results, she scored an A in Biology and Project Work and Bs in the other subjects, passing in first grade.
Abigail says she is grateful to her sponsors and the foundation for giving her a second chance in life.
Having grown up with asthma and lost her mother at a young age, she now wants to study Medicine and Surgery. Her dream is to organise medical camps and help people in her community access treatment and health education.
“I want to treat people in the community,” she says. “I want to organize medical camps and teach people how to take care of their health. I don’t want anyone to go through what I go through with my health.”
Bashir Musaazi says Abigail is one of several children who have transformed their lives through support and education, including others who have also performed well in national examinations.
