Life has never played fair. And for Henry Mulungi, a bright young man who stared adversity in the face and still fought for his dreams, the fight ended just as he was crossing the finish line.
On Thursday, May 15th, 2025, the Makerere University community was shattered by the heartbreaking news of Henry’s passing. A final year student of Statistics and resident of Nkrumah Hall, Henry had just completed his last university paper when tragedy struck. He was rushed to the University Hospital, but his heart — already burdened by a long-standing condition — gave out.
He never got to celebrate.
What makes Henry’s story so incredibly painful isn’t just how young he was, but how much he had overcome to get to this point. During his Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education (UACE) exams, Henry was bedridden. He didn’t have the luxury of good health, yet he wrote every paper, every word, while battling pain that most of us couldn’t imagine. And against the odds, he scored an impressive 20 points — good enough to secure a place at Uganda’s most prestigious university, Makerere.
He didn’t just get in. He thrived. He pushed through, semester after semester, quietly battling his condition, determined to one day walk proudly in a graduation gown.
But sometimes — tragically — you don’t become part of the future you fight very hard for.
Henry was laid to rest on Saturday, May 17th, in Kalagala village, Mubende District. His family, friends, and fellow students mourn not just his absence, but the many things he never got to become — a graduate, a professional, a contributor to this nation.
There’s a cruel irony in a young man surviving sickness through his toughest academic journey, only to collapse in the moment that was supposed to bring him joy. But there’s also something deeply beautiful about his courage.
To know Henry was to know a quiet warrior. One who never asked to be pitied. One who wanted to live — not just survive.
In a time where many are quick to give up, Henry’s story reminds us of grit, of faith, and of fighting even when no one is clapping. Though he didn’t get to see the life he fought for, he lived every step with purpose and courage.
Rest well, Henry Mulungi. You were the definition of strength.
“Sometimes heroes don’t make it to the parade. But we never forget them.”
