By Christine Mirembe
Denison Ssekiziyivu, a Uganda Christian University (UCU) diploma graduate and final-year bachelor’s degree student, is juggling school and work. Neither came easily. 

On a day in late May and at the UCU Mukono campus guild square, the 26-year-old shared his journey that began in 2020 when he was pursuing a diploma in Business Administration. At the same time, he thought about getting employment while continuing to study for a bachelor’s degree in Procurement and Logistics Management. 

With diploma in hand in 2022 and knowing jobs are not plentiful in Uganda, he started his search for work.

“It was so hard,” Denison said. “I was using my diploma to apply to different organizations but they turned down the applications because I had a diploma and not a degree.”

Every organization he applied to asked him for a bachelor’s degree. Nevertheless, his consistency pushed his vision to keep applying for various jobs because he believed in his skill set more than his academic credentials. 

Development Finance Company of Uganda Bank Limited (DFCU), a leading commercial bank in Uganda, issued out a call for applications, which he took on. He didn’t make it instantly. However, due to persistence and willingness to voluntarily work, he earned the job.

In the middle of September of 2022, he received a phone call from a DFCU bank branch manager in Kampala. She informed him that he had been hired as a direct sales representative on temporary terms in that his salary was dependent on his daily work output. 

“At first, I was excited because my main focus was to get a job.” expressed Denison.

For the next one month, he made it a point to travel from Mukono to Kampala and report to work by 8 a.m. daily.  Transportation time and cost were barriers. Another obstacle was his ability to sell because of his lack of a bank Identification Card (ID).

Additionally, in December, the bank branch he was working at announced its closure because it had very many branches in the same proximity. As the rest of the people were being relocated to other branches, Denison wasn’t because he was not a registered staff member. 

During a branch farewell party, he was given an opportunity to speak. His words and ideas that day opened another door. This interaction propelled him to a digital banking officer position on a contractual basis in a DFCU branch in Mukono. With a recommendation and an interview, along with proof he was working on a bachelor’s degree, he got the job. 

“This time I wasn’t incurring a lot of expenses because I live in Mukono,” he said.

Denison is paying his UCU tuition from his bank salary, piggery farming and maize growing, 

His boss at the bank, alongside his lecturers, have played an important role in his academic journey as they are understanding and accommodate him since he’s studying and working at the same time. He appreciates them while giving gratitude to God for leading him throughout his trek.

Denison has managed to successfully juggle school and work roles and should graduate in July 2026.

“If you go to any of my sites (Instagram, etc.), you’ll find familiar words like loyalty, integrity and honesty,” he said. These are the core principles by which he lives.

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