How former Etop scribe beat all odds to attain first degree in the family after 34 years of uncertainties

Kalaki: Born on July 16, 1984, Julius Obongo began my educational journey in 1990 at Ogwolo Primary School in Kalaki District. As the second born of eight children to Dionisius Eweku Odeng, a retired meteorologist, and Regina Irongu, a housewife, Obongo’s path was not an easy one.

Despite struggling academically and spending nine years in primary school, he developed a reputation for being sociable, stubborn, and popular with my peers.

Obongo’s primary school teacher, Joseph Atirok (RIP), nicknamed him “Half Kilo” because of my small size, while others called me “Olungura,” an Ateso word meaning round, due to my physical appearance.

His academic challenges persisted, especially in language skills, but in 1994, after repeating P.3, Obongo finally grasped how to read and write.

By P.4, his academic performance significantly improved, earning his the position of Class Monitor. In 1996, Obongo father transferred me and my sister Caroline to Swaria Primary School in Soroti Municipality, where he continued his studies and began writing for Etop Newspaper’s children’s column, Etop Lo Idwe. In 1997, Obongo was awarded prizes for my contributions.

In 1998,  Obongo completed my Primary Leaving Examination (PLE) at Swaria Primary School with an aggregate of 16 and went on to Soroti Senior Secondary School for both my Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) and Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE), graduating in 2004.

Obongo had hoped to further my education in a Diploma in Business Administration, but financial constraints stood in the way. Despite gaining admission to Makerere Business Institute, his father told me there was no money for tuition.

Obongo’s father also discouraged me from pursuing a business course, adding to my confusion. His attempts to seek support from my elder brother were met with disappointment, as he too was financially unable to assist. At that point, he was left disillusioned and resigned to a life of hardship.

In 2006, Obongo left his village and moved to Kampala, where I worked as a porter at Togo Construction Co. Ltd for three years. However, a fall from a construction site in 2009 ended my work there, and I returned to the village. It was during this time that Obongo met Betty Ajuo, with whom I began cohabiting. Their life was difficult; they struggled to make ends meet, engaging in small businesses like burning charcoal and baking pancakes.

The financial strain led Obongo to attempt joining the Uganda Police, but his efforts were unsuccessful. Obongo was mocked by relatives, which emotionally devastated me.

In 2010, Obongo nearly burned my academic certificates, believing they no longer had any value. It was his wife who intervened and saved them. This moment became a turning point, and with the support of my mother and wife, Obongo sowed millet, harvested, and sold it to raise money for further studies.

In January 2011, Obongo enrolled at UMCAT School of Journalism and Mass Communication in Soroti, initially intending to pursue business administration. However, the admission officer,

Mr. Emuton Gilbert, advised me to pursue journalism instead, citing its marketability. Though uncertain at the time, Obongo followed his advice and never regretted it. After completing my internship, He landed a job at Kyoga Veritas Radio as a reporter and Ateso news anchor. In 2013, he joined Etop under Vision Group in Soroti, and in 2016, Obongo was transferred to Kampala as a Translator/Typesetter for Etop Newspaper.

In 2018, Obongo enrolled at Kyambogo University for a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences, but the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown disrupted my studies.

Obongo lost his job when the regional newspapers under Vision Group closed, forcing me to drop out temporarily and relocate to the village. During this period, he ventured into politics, contesting in the NRM primaries for a councilor position. Although Obongo did not win, he gained moral victory and was later recruited by the Teso Volunteer Group (TVG).

In 2021, Obongo took up work with Corporate Security Services and later with the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahai Faith as a Translator. This job enabled him to return to his studies in 2022, though balancing work, family responsibilities, and the cost of commuting to Kyambogo University proved to be a significant challenge.

Despite these obstacles, on December 12, 2024, Obongo was officially awarded a Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences from Kyambogo University. This achievement is not only mine but also a milestone for my entire family, as we had never had a graduate before.

Although this degree may not bring direct benefits to me due to my limited years left in the workforce, Obongo is grateful to have broken the family’s educational barrier.  Obongo hopes this path will inspire my younger siblings and children to pursue higher education.

This journey has taught Obongo resilience, sacrifice, and adaptability. While he has no immediate plans to further my studies, Obongo aspires to pursue a Master’s in Public Administration and Management in the future.Top of Form. 

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