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“Before I formed you in the

womb I knew you, before
you were born I set you
apart.”
Jeremiah 1:5a

TESTIMONY
Semakula Charles April 2018, Issue 72
I was born in Masaka currently Kalungu District into a family that wasn’t as orderly as give you a new apartment. Then, go get a bachelor’s degree and present your transcript
my father had more than one wife. Because my mother wasn’t the first wife, she did not for another increment in salary and a few added benefits. Those reasons were not
stay in my father’s house but stayed in Luwero district where l grew up and studied. All compelling enough for me to upgrade, but now I had found one. What I needed to
responsibilities of fending for me rested squarely on my mother who unfortunately did figure out was how I was going to get a bachelor’s degree without a Uganda Advanced
not have a steady income herself. Certificate of Education or a diploma. And so I started exploring the available options.
Along the way Save An Orphan (SAO), which is now Share An Opportunity, came to our True to the saying, “where there is a will there is a way,” I soon found the way to my
local church, Luwero Baptist Church, with a child sponsorship program and l was among bachelor’s degree at Makerere University. At Makerere, there is an admission slot for
those enrolled. SAO took care of my school fees and also provided some few school mature entry. Under this scheme, those applying to enrol for any degree are subjected
requirements. SAO sponsored me through my primary education until part of senior to two tests: an aptitude test and a programme specific test. I passed both tests and got
three when they stopped under unclear circumstances. admitted for a Bachelors of Biomedical Laboratory Technology for the academic year
I wanted to at least finish my ordinary level education which ends at senior four. Luckily, 2012/13. From 2012 to 2016 I was a self-sponsored student at Makerere University,
before SAO pulled out, I had found some work to do which provided me with some attending lectures in the evening while working during the day.
income. It has always been in my nature to have a back-up plan for everything just in After completing my studies, even before graduation day, I was assigned to a new
case what I am relying on fails. So, when the reality of no sponsorship to continue my project with UVRI. This is something I can only give thanks to God for. It’s favour that I
education hit, it is the money I was earning from my work together with my mother’s did not deserve. I am very grateful for my new role because it provides me with income
contribution that covered my school fees for part of senior three and four. enough to enable me quit all the part time jobs I had taken on. Currently am occupied
Whenever students were off to social events like sports events, music competitions, by this project work at the institute though l also run some private facilities outside my
etc., I was at work at a nearby clinic. My friends often told me, “Semakula, when do you formal employment.
ever settle in school?” My work at the clinic was to fetch water from the main tank into Through my studies and job life, I have seen God knit out things slowly for my good. My
smaller metallic tanks and heat it up using firewood as well as cleaning inside, outside life has proved that indeed God knew me before I was formed in my mother’s womb as
and around the facility. The owner of the clinic was a man of style who wanted his He tells us in Jeremiah 1:5.
patients to bathe warm water.
When I finished my senior four, though I had scored very good grades, I decided that I
wasn’t going to continue with Advanced level secondary school education. Instead, I
opted for training in radiology at Kiwoko Hospital while working in the same place. This
is a decision I made because I wanted to get a job and start working so I can continue
earning. And this Advanced level secondary education wasn’t going to offer me that.

“
I have seen God knit out things
slowly for my good
Securing a training opportunity at Kiwoko hospital wasn’t hard because I had become
friends with a number of the staff there who always called on me to play the keyboard
every time they were out on evangelical missions. Besides, it was also cheaper, I reckon,
for the hospital to train me and have me work there as opposed to hiring an already
trained specialist.
Charles speaking at a Build Up retreat
I therefore trained as a radiology assistant under the supervision of some trained expat-
riates from UK and within. But after acquiring the skills in radiology, I did not work there I am also grateful to God for my mother who took a chance on me and supported me in
for long because I realised there weren’t as many employment opportunities in that all my radical decisions even as a child.
field of work. I desired to switch from radiology to medical laboratory. I therefore I encourage the young people, especially the boys, to stop thinking that their parents
approached the Finance Manager and informed him of my desire to switch field of owe them anything because you were born to them. The moment one gains the ability
speciality. After assuring him that I would be able to study while attending to the to decide for themselves, it ceases to matter what your parents are able to do for you or
radiology work at the hospital in the evenings and on weekends, he granted me the not. You have to stand and face this challenging world by yourself. Leave the parents
permission to join laboratory school and even promised to take care of my tuition for alone.
the training. At the beginning of my training in laboratory school, some of my I also encourage people to stop thinking that the way other people have done things is
colleagues and tutors grumbled because they felt I was being favoured—how come I the same way they should do them. Everyone must develop a master plan for their life
was able to keep my job and be in the school at the same time—but because my place- which is not influenced by external factors or voices but by their own internal
ment had been approved by the Finance Manager, the grumbling was short-lived. convictions. If you seek earnestly, you will find that most times there is a legal and godly
In 2011 after laboratory school and working for a while in Kiwoko Hospital, I decided to way to your intended destination in life.
look for a job in public service because I realised the pay I was getting from Kiwoko Semakula Charles was born to Katabazi John in a family of three wives and eight
hospital was little. I managed to get one in Entebbe with the Uganda Virus Research children.
Institute (UVRI) on the merit of my certificate in medical laboratory and experience in
He is a medical practitioner, technologist by current training, working in Entebbe.
medical work.
He serves on the Missions Team of Kampala Baptist Church, is active in the Young
My work with UVRI exposed me to a field in medicine that I didn’t know about—Medical
Adults Ministry and the current president of the Build Up program alumni.
Research—since all my trainings and experience was in hospital and patients care only. I
loved research! What I needed to secure my place in this field was a bachelor’s degree The KEY RING is a monthly publication by the Kampala Baptist Church Media Team
related to medical research. Up until this time I hadn’t seen the need to have a that seeks to provide an avenue where men and women can share knowledge and
bachelor’s degree. Most of my colleagues in Kiwoko had gone for diplomas because for understanding of the word of God, experiences and encourage one another as the
most of them that was the trend: First, get a diploma and present your transcript to the older perform the act of ‘paralambano’ to the younger.
hospital management so they can increase your pay by about UGX 100,000 and also Our prayer is that the Lord will speak to you through this publication.

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