Samuel Kafufu, a Senior Four student at St John Bosco Senior Secondary grew up facing numerous challenges in Kamuli District. After his father left, Samuel and his four siblings were raised by their grandmother, who did her best to care for them. As the fourth child in the family, Samuel quickly learned that life would not be easy. 

For seven years, Samuel and his older brother struggled to stay in school. “We had to pay our own school fees,” Denis remembers. “Sometimes we would go days without knowing where the next meal or the next shilling would come from.” 

His brother made a big sacrifice; he dropped out of school and opened a small chapati stall in Kamuli town. Every evening after school, Samuel would hurry to the stall to help. Together, they mixed dough, flipped chapatis, and served customers, all to earn enough for school fees.  

When his brother had to leave in search of greener pastures, Samuel was left to face the struggle alone. He was often sent home from school because he couldn’t pay the fees. “I remember in Senior Two, I never paid any fees,” Samuel says. “But the headmaster was kind. He always forgave me and let me stay.” To survive, Samuel became creative. He sold watermelons when they were in season, and when they weren’t, he fetched water and sold it in the village. “Selling watermelons was good, but it only lasted a short time,” he explains.  

One week, Samuel stayed home, working hard to save up money. When he finally returned to school to pay his fees, the headmaster called him aside. “He told me I had been selected for the Enabel scholarship,” Samuel says, his eyes shining. “I was so happy. I felt like a heavy load had been lifted from my shoulders.” 

With the scholarship, Samuel’s life changed. He no longer worried about being sent home. He could buy his own uniform and books and even help his grandmother with food. “Now I can focus on my studies,” Samuel says with a smile. “I am grateful because I can also support my grandmother, who has always been there for me.” 

Samuel wants to become a pharmacist, so he can help people in his community access the medicine they need. As he waits to finish Senior Four and receive his results, Samuel plans to keep running his watermelon business. He also plans to help the district turn garbage into liquid that can be used to install pavers in people’s compounds. “I want to make a difference, not just for myself, but for my whole community,” he says.