Musa Ssekanjako
Age 20-years-old
School Ntonda View College (a high school)
Class Senior 6 (16th Grade)
Village Kamuge / Mbale District
Family situation I am a former street kid. My father died and left me with my Mum who took me to stay with my grandmother in the village. I later escaped because I was not going to school.
I want to be a computer engineer.
Ambition I want to help rehabilitate and educate street kids.
Hobbies I love music, mostly R&B. I wrote a rap song which L.E.A.D recorded.
My story
“I grew up with my grandmother Nafuna Zaituni in the village. When I was 6-years-old she took me to a government aided junior school so she did not have to pay school fees. As she grew older, she could not even raise money for my books and school uniform. My mother was living in the town, and she rarely came to the village to check on me. I dropped out of school and stayed at home helping my grandmother dig in her small garden. I felt I had been denied the chance to go to school. In 2002, I decided to walk to Mbale, a distance of 25 miles, to pursue my dream of a better life.
I lived on the streets of Mbale for several days, at times with no food. Conditions got worse and worse. I decided to find means to reach Kampala, the capital city, because I thought life on its streets would be better. I helped traders carry their luggage in return for money, and when I had enough, I got on the bus to Kampala. As a newcomer to Kampala, street life was not easy because the boys on the street were ruder than I expected, but later I was able to cope.
After six months on the streets, we were rounded up by the police and taken to a children’s remand (detention) facility, where KIN, an NGO that looks after street kids, bailed me out and took me to their home. I was glad that at least there, I was guaranteed a daily meal and sleep. However my deepest desire was to go to school and study and be able to help my grandmother.
In 2004, a L.E.A.D Ugandastaff member came looking for smart kids who wanted to go to school. I was selected with four street kids to join. Unlike KIN, L.E.A.D is an educational leadership program. I felt my deepest desire was finally met. I was taken to St. John Bosco Katende where I got an ‘A’ in 7th grade. Because of my good grades, I was able to join Seeta High, one of the top high schools.
I am so glad that they took me. I am now happy and fulfilled. I look forward to becoming an engineer after my studies. I also look forward to building my grandmother a house and buying her a big piece of land. I also want to help children who live on the streets, giving them food, shelter, and making it possible for them go to school.”
