By Irene Best Nyapendi
Nelson Mandela once said, “It always seems impossible until it’s done,” and Rebecca Malinga can testify to it. The 24-year-old Bachelor of Business Administration student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) is graduating with a First-Class degree, a goal she once thought she would never achieve.
At one point, she nearly gave up. “There was a semester when things became really tough,” she admitted. “My sponsor’s support delayed, and I had no tuition or feeding money. Life was so hard. I could not focus on classes, and I almost fell into depression.”
Her sponsor, an American who had supported her since high school, suddenly faced delays in sending funds. Back home, there was no one else to turn to for help. But in that storm, Malinga’s friends stepped in. “Those friends became my family,” she said with emotion. “They fed me, gave me a place to sleep, and encouraged me not to give up. When I felt like quitting, they reminded me of my dream to get a First-Class. Their love and faith kept me going.”
“I am so excited,” she said, still sounding amazed at her own achievement. “When I saw my name among the First-Class students, I could not believe it. I thought I was dreaming. But when I joined the WhatsApp group for First-Class October graduates, it finally hit me that it’s real.”
Throughout her academic journey, Malinga’s faith was strong. There was a time she almost missed an exam because of tuition, but at the last minute, after a friend prayed for me, the money came through. That was God showing up.
Like many students who arrive at university fresh from high school, Malinga was uncertain about what campus life would be like. But her fears quickly faded when she realized that UCU was more than just a place to earn a degree, it was a place to grow spiritually, emotionally, and socially. “From the moment I joined, I felt at home,” she recalled. “UCU’s Christ-centered nature has shaped me so much. This is where I truly learned how to worship and serve God.”
Malinga’s highlights at UCU are the worship nights and movie nights that made her evenings on campus. “I have never missed a worship night,” she said proudly. “Those moments deepened my faith and brought me closer to God. Even now, I still belong to a fellowship that started from UCU.”
Beyond the spiritual experience, she found a close circle of friends who stood by her through thick and thin. Together, they shared laughter, prayer, and study sessions that helped her through the toughest semesters.
To Malinga, one of the most remarkable things about UCU is how much the lecturers care about their students. “At UCU, no one is left behind,” she said. “Even if you are struggling, lecturers notice and find ways to help. They might assign you a tutor or personally guide you. They make sure everyone rises together.”
Her words paint a picture of a university that does not only focus on academic excellence but also on the personal wellbeing of its students. This unique environment, she says, is what sets UCU apart from other institutions. While other universities may focus on numbers, UCU focuses on producing graduates who are not only skilled but also grounded in faith and integrity.
Having majored in accounting, she dreams of becoming a professional accountant one day. “That’s where my passion lies,” she said. “But because Business Administration is broad, I can also explore other fields. I just want to be useful wherever God places me.”
Away from books and lectures, Malinga describes herself as a lover of decency, a peacemaker, and a person who finds joy in seeing others happy. It bothers her to see people sad.
As she prepares to graduate, Malinga attributes this First-Class to God, her sponsor, friends, and family who believed in her and gave her the chance to study at UCU. At UCU, dreams like Malinga’s don’t just come true, they grow, flourish, and inspire others to believe that with faith, hard work, and community, nothing is impossible.