Rosetta Lokol Ayaa
My name is Rosetta Lokol, and I am 26 years old. I was the first in my family to receive a university education. I managed to finish primary school, but with a lot of struggle over school fees. My family and I ran a small alcohol-brewing business in Kaabong district to raise money. My mother was a single mother, struggling to make sure my sister and I finished school — our father died when I was still very young, and I never got the chance to meet him. By the time I reached Senior Six, our finances still were not enough, so alongside the brewing business, we also sold mandazi to supplement our income.
A Race Against Registration
At the time of Senior Six registration for national examinations, I was still struggling and almost on the verge of dropping out. I had not cleared all my fees, so I was sent home to raise the rest. I had an aunt who sometimes helped with school fees, so I reached out to her — making the three-hour journey home and back so I would be in time for registration. Unfortunately, I did not find my mother at home; she was in hospital attending to my aunt, who had been in an accident. Someone had to travel from the village to the hospital to tell my mother about my school fees. She sent UGX 50,000, still short of the UGX 90,000 I actually needed. To make up the difference and get back to school in time to register, I sold some goats at home for the rest of the money. But even after raising the registration fee, I still didn’t have money for transport back to school.
In that moment, someone from school called to tell me the registration photography was almost finished. I was desperate. I asked my aunt for transport money, but she didn’t have any. I thought of the man who was dating my cousin, asked him for help, and he gave me UGX 10,000, which I used for transport.
When I reached school, the cameraman had already left. I was told to go back, because without a photo I would not be able to sit my exams. I cried so hard and thought my life was over. I slept and didn’t eat for the rest of the day. I thought about all the men I had dated before, and, believing my life no longer had meaning, I resolved to just get married instead.
A Second Chance
A miracle happened: the following day, the cameraman returned and took my photograph for registration, and that is how I was able to sit my exams.
One day after we finished sitting our exams, people from FAWE Uganda came to my school and told us about Mastercard Foundation university scholarships for students of sciences and literature. I was overjoyed, because my plan all along had been to study literature. This opened my mind to the possibility of a university education, and I decided to pursue it.
Building a Future
When I joined university, I had nothing, but the organization gave me everything — including upkeep money, from which I was able to save and build my mother a house. I had promised her I would always do my best to help her, and I thank God for being so faithful to me.
“On a special note, I would like to thank FAWE Uganda and Mastercard Foundation for giving me the opportunity to access quality education.”