Growing up in Nkonge Village, Kyampisi Sub-county in Mukono District, Esther Ziribaggwa learned the value of resilience at an early age.
Born to Mr. Musisi Godfrey, a farmer, and Ms. Babirye Resty, a market vendor in Seeta, her rise from a modest background to becoming Makerere University’s best-performing science student is a story of determination, sacrifice and unwavering faith.
Ziribaggwa attained an impressive CGPA of 4.77 in the Bachelor of Agricultural and Rural Innovation, a programme under the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES). She is set to graduate on February 24, 2026, during the first day of Makerere University’s 76th graduation ceremony.
A Journey Marked by Financial Struggles
Ziribaggwa’s academic journey was not without setbacks. Despite her parents’ commitment to education, financial hardships repeatedly threatened to derail her ambitions.
She began her schooling at Frobel Day and Boarding Primary School before transferring to Seeta Boarding Primary School, where she excelled, scoring nine aggregates in the Primary Leaving Examinations.
However, her transition to secondary school came with major challenges. She joined Mpoma Royal College in Mukono District alongside her sister. Shortly after they started Senior One, their father fell seriously ill and underwent intestinal surgery, leaving him unable to work. With school fees unpaid, both sisters were forced to drop out for a year.
Their return was only made possible through the support of the school bursar and the then head teacher, Ms. Namazzi Connie, who reduced their school fees from Shs800,000 to Shs380,000.
“The year out of school was a huge setback,” Ziribaggwa recalls, “but I focused on catching up. I knew I couldn’t waste this second chance.”
Her determination paid off as she completed her O-Level with 25 aggregates in eight subjects, despite losing an entire year.
Switching Schools at A’ Level
Her A’ Level education was equally disrupted by financial limitations. She attended three different schools due to an unstable family income.
She first enrolled at Seat of Wisdom Boarding School in Kayunga, but later dropped out when her family could no longer afford the fees. By then, her father had undergone a second operation and was still unable to work.
Her mother stepped in and transferred her to Paul Mukasa Day and Boarding Secondary School in Mukono District. However, the long commute as a day student proved exhausting, leading to another transfer to Godmark High School, where she completed A’ Level in 2019.
She passed with 15 points in Geography, Economics, Agriculture, and Subsidiary Mathematics.
Two-Year Wait Before University
After completing Senior Six, Ziribaggwa waited for two years before joining a university due to financial constraints. Although she had been admitted under private sponsorship to pursue a Bachelor of Statistics, she could not raise the tuition required.
Following the outbreak of COVID-19 and the resulting lockdown, Makerere University opened a window for applicants who had completed Senior Six within a certain period. With cut-off points lowered across programmes, Ziribaggwa successfully secured government sponsorship to pursue a degree in Agricultural and Rural Innovation.
Gratitude and Faith
Ziribaggwa credits her success to God, her parents and the many people who supported her education. She expressed special appreciation to the Government of Uganda for sponsoring her university studies, and to Ms. Namazzi Connie for subsidising her school fees at O-Level.
She also thanked her lecturers at CAES and the Jesus is King Ministry under the Makerere University Christian Union.
Encouraging Students Facing Hardship
To students facing similar struggles, Ziribaggwa offers a message of hope and perseverance. “Never let your situation break you. There’s always going to be challenges, sometimes pushing you to what feels like a point of no return,” she says. “But those moments should not define your future – they are a test of your resilience. Strive to outgrow them and become a better person, even when the journey feels impossible.”
Career and Future Ambitions
Ziribaggwa currently works with Slow Food Uganda in the extension division, focusing on agricultural support programs for women and youth in Mukono District.
Although her childhood dream was to become a medical doctor, she says she has grown to love agriculture and has no regrets about the path she chose.
She hopes to rise to the level of Senior Agricultural Officer, with the aim of improving farming conditions, particularly in rural communities. Her upbringing exposed her to challenges faced by farmers, including unpredictable weather that demands irrigation solutions and the misuse of agrochemicals, which threatens soil health and human wellbeing.
Ziribaggwa also hopes to pursue further studies in crop and soil science.
She draws inspiration from Hon. Rebecca Kadaga, the former Speaker of Parliament and First Deputy Prime Minister, whom she admires for her resilience, eloquence and work ethic. “I have always admired her for being hardworking, resilient, and eloquent,” she says, adding that she hopes to emulate those qualities in her own journey.
Credit: Mak News