A 39-year-old catechist in Mubende District has returned to the classroom to sit the 2026 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE), more than two decades after dropping out of school in Primary Six.
Yosam Kabushehe Nzunguli, who serves at Mwoyo Church of Uganda in Buweekula South, is among the candidates sitting the national examinations at Kitaama Primary School.
The news of Kabushehe’s return to primary school as a mature learner comes a day after Nile Post reported on Justus Tukamushaba, a 45-year-old catechist who also returned to the classroom after dropping out of school in Primary Five in 1995.
Tukamushaba, who was sitting PLE at Kigamba Primary School in Mubende District, said he hoped to continue his education up to Senior Six and pursue further theological training.
A father of nine, Kabushehe left school in 2001 before eventually pursuing a career in the Church, where he has served as a catechist for four years.
He said his decision to return to school was supported by his wife, whom he married in 2011.
“I married my wife in 2011, and we have seven children. However, I have two other children with another woman because I was a womaniser before converting to Christianity. I was born in 1987, and I am now 39 years old,” Kabushehe said.
He said he discussed his ambitions with his wife before enrolling in Primary Seven, explaining that his return to education was driven by a desire to acquire academic qualifications and pursue a childhood dream.
“When I joined Christianity, I approached my wife with a plan of becoming a catechist. Initially, I undertook a two-year course between 2024 and 2025.
“Later, in early 2026, I told her that I had a dream of joining Primary Seven. Here I am today because I wanted to obtain an academic qualification,” Kabushehe said.
He said he had always wanted to become a lawyer, a dream that continues to motivate him despite the long interruption to his education.
“First of all, I wanted to learn English. I also had a dream of becoming a lawyer, and that is why I decided to go back to school,” he said.
Before joining regular classes, Kabushehe said he hired a private teacher who gave him lessons for more than three years. He later approached the school’s headteacher for admission, initially asking to study independently before eventually joining the other pupils.
“In 2023, I got a teacher who could give me private lessons. Later, I approached the headteacher for admission. Initially, I requested to study alone, but eventually, I joined the entire class,” he said.
Kabushehe said he was proud that his children were progressing academically, even though his firstborn was already in Senior One while he was still completing primary school.
“My firstborn is currently in Senior One, and I am happy because, as a father, I wanted my children to get an education. I am comfortable with the fact that I am still in Primary Seven,” he said.
Reflecting on the examinations, Kabushehe identified Mathematics as his biggest challenge but expressed confidence in his performance in other subjects.
“Truth be told, I fear Mathematics, and it really treated me badly. However, for Social Studies, I am sure I am going to score over 60 per cent. English was also a tough battle, while Science was a walkover for me,” he said.
He urged fellow catechists who missed out on formal education or dropped out along the way to return to school and improve their academic qualifications.
“I encourage my fellow catechists, especially those who never went to school or dropped out, to go back and upgrade their education,” he said.
Beyond his church responsibilities and studies, Kabushehe has also served as chairperson of the School Management Committee at Kitaama Primary School for more than three years.
He said parents had developed confidence in his leadership but acknowledged that he might have to relinquish the position if he proceeds to secondary school next year.
“I have been the chairperson for over three years, and the parents have loved me so much. However, I feel sorry because, by next year, I will be joining secondary school, and I will have to leave them,” he said.
Kitaama Primary School Headteacher Nestooli Balisigala described Kabushehe as hardworking and actively involved in school activities, despite being a candidate himself.
“Kabushehe has been very hardworking and has served as our School Management Committee chairperson. He could chair all meetings at the school, including meetings involving parents of candidates, yet he was also a candidate,” Balisigala said.
He said Kabushehe sometimes struggled to balance his church responsibilities with school attendance because his pastoral duties occasionally kept him away from classes.
“His church is very busy, and sometimes we had to call him to remind him about classes because he could spend days away attending to church activities. However, he managed to balance both responsibilities,” Balisigala said.
