By Aggrey Baba
In a world where many rest on their accolades after achieving success, a few continue climbing and refusing to let circumstances dictate their limits.
One such person is (now) Dr. Rosemary Nansubuga Sseninde, the former Wakiso Woman MP, ex-State Minister for Primary Education, and current NRM Mobilization Chief, who has defied odds to earn a PhD in Management and Public Administration.
Today, March 14, 2025, as she joins the distinguished ranks of scholars at the Uganda Management Institute’s (UMI) 22nd graduation ceremony, Sseninde’s story serves as a powerful reminder that education is not a destination but a journey, one that requires resilience, passion and an unquenchable thirst for knowledge.
The UMI Graduation Grounds were filled with excitement and joy as 3,294 graduands received their academic honors. Among them were 2,411 ordinary diploma recipients, 867 post-diploma graduates and six master’s and PhD awardees.
The event was graced by Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Thomas Tayebwa, who took a moment to congratulate Dr. Sseninde and other graduates on their remarkable achievement.
Sseninde’s name stood out not just because of her academic feat but because of the determination and purpose that fueled her pursuit of knowledge. For many, earning a PhD while juggling national political responsibilities similar to what she wields would seem impossible. But for Sseninde, education is a lifelong commitment.
In a Friday interview with Mulengera News, Dr. Sseninde revealed that her decision to pursue a PhD was deeply personal. A teacher by profession, she believes that “education never stops for a teacher.” However, what truly pushed her back to school was her daughter’s struggle to achieve her academic dreams.
Her daughter had aspired to study medicine at the University but fell short of the required points by just one mark. Determined not to give up, the young girl chose to repeat Senior Six to improve her scores. Witnessing this struggle firsthand, Sseninde felt compelled to investigate why many students, like her daughter, struggle to achieve their academic goals. This realization drove her to enroll for a PhD and conduct research into the challenges students face in their academic journeys.
Earning a PhD is no small task, even for a full-time student. For a high-profile politician with numerous responsibilities, the challenge is even greater. Sseninde enrolled for her PhD in 2019, hoping to complete it within three years. However, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted her studies, forcing her to pause for two years before finally graduating today.
Asked how she managed to balance her demanding political career with the rigorous academic work, Dr. Sseninde said it all boiled down to commitment, discipline and proper time management.
Sseninde believes that education is the backbone of any nation. She urged fellow leaders, especially Members of Parliament, to go back to school and further their qualifications. She criticized the current minimum academic qualification for MPs, Senior Six, stating that it has left many leaders complacent.
“There’s no way a Senior Six leaver can compete with a PhD graduate like me,” she stated, adding that this is one of the reasons why some MPs have turned Parliament into a boxing ring instead of debating issues intellectually. She further argued that some MPs struggle to find jobs after leaving Parliament because they lack the academic qualifications to secure other opportunities and be employable elsewhere.
Dr. Sseninde’s academic journey is a reflection of her determination to never stop learning. She first entered Parliament in 2001 as a diploma holder but continued to upgrade her education. She pursued a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management at MUBS in 2002, followed by a Master’s degree in Ethics and Public Management at Makerere University, and now a PhD.
With a PhD now in hand, Sseninde says she is open to teaching at higher institutions if the opportunity arises. So, dear reader don’t be surprised to find Dr. Sseninde taking up a lecturing job or graduate students’ supervision some day. She believes that knowledge should not be hoarded but shared to inspire and uplift others.
As she embarks on this new chapter, her story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration to Ugandans, a reminder that no matter how successful you are, learning never stops.
[Where there’s a will, there’s a way], she says. And for Sseninde, the way forward is a continued commitment to education, leadership and public service. And at the Friday graduation ceremony at UMI, her ever very supportive spouse Omulongo Kizza Sseninde was at hand to render all the physical and moral support he could marshal.
Yet Sseninde wasn’t the only eminent Ugandan who graduated at the Friday ceremony. There were several others including National Guidance Minister Godfrey Kabyanga, NBS journalist Mildred Tuhaise and others. Speakers at the event included UMI Director General Dr. James Nkata, Chancellor Chief Justice Emeritus Bart Katurebe and Chief Guest Thomas Tayebwa among others. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
