Makerere College of Natural Sciences (CoNAS) has also unveiled their best performing female students who scooped first class degrees ahead of the university’s 71st graduation ceremony scheduled to happen next month.
The two best performing female students from CoNAS include; Nakato Zora Joy with a BSc. Honours – First Class (CGPA 4.62) degree majoring in Mathematics and a minor in Physics and Ayebare Ruth with a BSc. Honours – First Class (CGPA 4.44) degree majoring in Statistics and a minor in Mathematics.
According to information published on the college’s website, Nakato is a 23 year old female, she completed studies at Makerere University and will graduate in May, 2021. On her journey to Makerere University, she attended Newfields Nursery and Day-care Centre for nursery education; attended Lohana Academy, Kololo for primary school where she attained 4 aggregates for Primary Leaving Examinations; she then joined Gayaza High School for secondary education attaining 8 in 8 and 11 in 10 for the Uganda Certificate of Education examinations; for A’level she offered PCM (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics) attaining 15 points for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education examinations. Born and raised in Kampala District, Ms. Nakato together with her twin Babirye are the eldest children of Eng. Peter Luyima and the Late Eng. Allen Nansubuga Wamala.
Ayebare on the other hand is a 23 year old female who completed studies at Makerere University and will graduate in May, 2021. Prior to joining Makerere, Ruth Ayebare attended Itojo Progressive Primary School where she attained 8 aggregates for her Primary Leaving Examinations; she then attended Bweranyangi Girls School for O’level attaining 24 points in 10 for the Uganda Certificate of Education Examinations; for A’level she went to St. Mary’s S.S.S Kitende where she offered PEM/ICT attaining 14points for the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education examinations. Ruth hails from Ntungamo District and is the youngest of five children (4 girls, 1 boy) born to Mr. Ayebare Tuhumwire Richards a retired head teacher of Kemironko Primary School and Mrs Ayebare Allen who is a housewife and small scale farmer.
Nakato is currently an intern in the Data Department at the Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda. She hopes to undertake post graduate studies (Masters and PhD) and specialise in Statistics and Applied Data Science because of the influence of date on decision making and all spheres of life. Joy wishes to work in academia because of the opportunity to mentor others which her lecturers and teachers did for her. She also hopes to be a wife and a mother.
While commenting on her performance, Nakato credited her milestone to God having lost her mother when she was about to complete her studies.
“I cannot take all the credit for what I have achieved. There’s always been that super natural source and that’s the Almighty God. At the time I lost my mother in between my finals it’s the Grace of God that saw me through to the end.” Nakato said.
According to Ayebare, her dream has always been sciences and she’s glad that her efforts and passion have finally paid off.
“My dream has always been to be scientist and I have always loved sciences which I consider simple/logic compared to arts subjects which have a lot of notes to read. My first choice programme on my Joint Admissions Board (JAB) application was Quantity Surveying however, I was admitted on Government Sponsorship to study Bachelor of Science – Physical (Statistics and Mathematics),”