Although the government is promoting the teaching of sciences in schools to ignite innovations and development, available statistics indicate that more boys than girls have embraced this call.

The false belief that girls are only good at subjects labelled as soft such as English and other arts has discouraged some girls from pursuing these subjects even when they are capable of excelling. Girls too can excel in the science world.

Atuheire Gift, 27, an electrician at Steel and Tube Industries Limited, located in Namanve Industrial Park in Mukono is a testimony that girls can equally excel in sciences.

Atuheire is a graduate of Electrical Engineering from Kabale University in Kabale District. She is attached to the maintenance department of Steel Roll Limited located in Namanve Industrial Park. She maintains and repairs transformers and motors. Motors are used to run the machines in the factory.

“I determine whether it is in the right state or not. Those that have issues are repaired immediately to avoid breaking down,” Atuheire says.

At first Atuheire wanted to be a teacher. She admired a particular teacher while at Mary Hill Secondary School in Mbarara so she wanted to be like her. She says the teacher was articulate and always dressed to kill. She, however, later on discovered that teachers go through so many challenges including merger pay hence the decision to switch her focus to Electrical Engineering. She says the Work Readiness programme has exposed her to the world of work.

According to Atuheire, her life will never remain the same since she has what it takes to accomplish any task assigned to her.