- Abel Kanyankole, a 48-year-old pastor and father of nine, is among 3,454 candidates sitting the UCE exams in Fort Portal, Uganda
- Kanyankole returned to school in 2022, starting from primary 7, after a failed bid for LC3 chairperson exposed his low education level
- Voters told the pastor he was not educated enough to lead, and he took their words seriously by enrolling at King of Kings College
A 48-year-old Ugandan pastor who lost a local council election partly because he lacked formal qualifications is now sitting his Uganda Certificate of Education exams, determined to prove that his political dream is still very much alive.
Source: UGC
Abel Kanyankole, a pastor at Kahunge Christian Fellowship Church in Kamwenge and a father of nine, is one of 3,454 candidates sitting the UCE examinations in Fort Portal.
He studies at King of Kings College in the city, and NTV Uganda found him at his home in Kagote preparing ahead of his very first UCE sitting].
Kanyankole's path back to education traces directly to a political setback.
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Kanyankole seeks to be chairperson
When he contested for the LC3 chairperson position in Kahunge Sub County, he found that voters were willing to support him in principle but could not look past his academic record.
"When I stand as LC3 chairperson of Kahunge Sub County, people, they have interest on me, but they told me you are not educated," he recalled.
"They told me to go back to school, so I am pushing until I finish because it is my dream, my dream must come true."
When did Kanyankole enroll at Chavenda Primary School?
Rather than dismiss the feedback, Kanyankole took it as a mandate.
In 2022, he enrolled at Chavenda Primary School in primary 7, restarting his formal education from near the beginning at an age when most of his peers were thinking about retirement.
The decision to return to school at 48, with nine children at home and a pastoral ministry to run, required a particular kind of resolve.
Kanyankole's story draws attention in Fort Portal
Kanyankole's journey from primary school to his current UCE sitting at King of Kings College has taken roughly three years, a period in which he balanced academic study with his responsibilities as a church leader and parent.
His story has drawn attention in Fort Portal not only for its emotional weight but also for the straightforward lesson it carries: that formal education remains a significant barrier to political participation in Uganda, even for experienced community figures with genuine public support.
For Kanyankole, completing his UCE is not an end in itself. It is a foundation, the first step towards returning to the ballot and making a case that voters can now accept.
Nigerian man returns to former school
In another story, TUKO also highlighted facts about a young Nigerian man who returned to his former school with his roommate to visit the woman who had cared for them as their school mother.
Her joyful reunion with the pair, marked by hugs and kisses, captured attention on TikTok, where the video drew more than 100,000 views.
Source: TUKO.co.ke