Joyful Mwesigwa

This is Joyful Msesigwa. She is pursuing a degree in Medicine and Surgery and we became aware of her when it looked like she would have to give up on her dream of education due to financial constraints. This is her story:

“My name is Joyful Mwesigwa, a medical student at Uganda Christian University. Thank you for the opportunity to share more about my background. I would like to sincerely explain my family’s financial situation.

I come from a low-income family with very limited financial support. My parents are not formally employed; they rely on small-scale subsistence farming and occasional informal work to sustain our household. Their income is unstable and insufficient to consistently meet the basic needs of our family, let alone cover tuition and university expenses.

My mother is diabetic and has ongoing health complications, including the effects of an accident she suffered a few years ago. Her mobility and strength have not been the same since, and this has greatly reduced her ability to contribute actively to farming. Her treatment and medication are costly and place an additional strain on our already overstretched household finances.

Paying school fees has always been a struggle. Each semester, we face the stress of whether I will be able to sit exams or register on time due to delayed or missing payments. My university tuition is high, and it often competes with other urgent needs at home such as food, medical bills, rent, and for my siblings. In many cases, relatives have tried to help, but their support is irregular and cannot be relied on.

Without external support like this scholarship, I fear that my education will be disrupted or completely cut short due to lack of funds. Every semester is a challenge, and I am constantly anxious about being discontinued. Despite this, I remain committed and hopeful because I believe so strongly in the value of becoming a doctor and giving back to my community.

Studying medicine has always been more than a dream to me; it is a deep calling to serve others, to bring healing where there is pain, and to be a voice of comfort and help to those who cannot afford it. Every academic milestone I reach is a result of prayer, sacrifice, and perseverance. The weight of tuition and academic expenses has become increasingly difficult to bear. There are times I wonder how I will make it to the end, but I still hold on because I know what I am working toward.”

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