ONGWEDIVA – The Oukwanyama Traditional Authority is striving to meet the government halfway through funding students who do not have the financial means to complete their studies.
This past year, OTA funded a medical student who was struggling to pay her final semester fees while studying at Kampala International University – Western Campus Ishaka, Bushenyi District in Uganda.
Luise Nghiueuelekwa from Ongha village in the Ohangwena region, studied towards a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) in Uganda.
She thanked OTA for paying her studies because she was about to quit school since there was no money to pay her last semester’s fees.
Nghiueuelekwa wrote her finals in May-June 2022 and graduated on 12 November 2022.
“In my last semester, as a family, we realised that this time around we wouldn’t be able to raise the tuition fees and since I was a final year student, I needed to clear (the balance) to zero to be allowed to sit even for continuous assessment tests. It was at this point that we felt we have a home where we can possibly reach out to,” she narrates. Nghiueuelekwa explained they approached their village head Merijam Kautwima to find out if Oukwanyama Traditional Authority can assist her with funds for the remaining semester.
She took the matter to the Omhedi district chief Hadino Hishongwa who presented it to the Oukwanyama Traditional Authority council where it was discussed and it didn’t take many days.
“We were notified that I will be funded. The day the news came I was in the ward on duty. I was thrilled. I was humbled. I think I was just blushing, the patient must have been wondering what the cause of the sudden joy unspeakable was, because it was an overwhelming moment, just like that, my elders have solved my greatest worries while in a foreign land,” she further stressed. Nghiueuelekwa told New Era that her tuition fee was US$3 075 per semester (US$6 150 per year) it included medical insurance from the university teaching hospital.
She stated that her hostel fee would range between N$1 000 – N$1 100 per month, depending on exchange rate, and she was paid in local currency (Ugandan shillings), excluding food.
She added that her family has been her primary sponsor with assistance of friends for all costs, including flight tickets and upkeep.
After graduation, she came home and took her papers to the queen, Martha Mwadinomho Kristian Nelumbu together with the whole traditional authority because without them she would have not done it alone and they are the reason she made it.
“As part of my token of appreciation, I further desire to sow back into the Oukwanyama community, however, I still do not know what or how exactly and I will have to consult the council to guide me in this regard,” she said.
She added that it was never easy when she left her husband and their two children, allowing her to go on a search for education and follow her dreams. OTA chairperson Eliaser Waandja said they funded Nghiueuelekwa to complete her studies because the country needs more medical doctors, therefore, the traditional authority believes that is very important when the country has more local doctors.
He said the N$20 villagers pay every year to the OTA was used to fund her studies.
Waandja added that this is not the first time the OTA is funding students who are facing challenges to pay for their studies.
“So far, we have paid school fees for three people who completed their studies. We have funded the student who was studying nursing at Unam and another student who completed her teaching course at Unam in Ongwediva,” said Waandja.