Journey to University: Courage
Courage Mugisha is one of the earliest students to join Action in Africa. AIA started supporting Courage during his primary education at St. Johnson Primary School in Nakuwadde. Today, he stands among the few doctors Action in Africa has proudly celebrated. He graduated in 2023 with a Diploma in Clinical Medicine and Community Health from Clarke International University through AIA’s University Scholarship Program.
Before joining university, Courage attended Central College Secondary School and St. Edwards College Ggalamba on AIA’s Secondary Scholarship, which he received in 2016. His education faced disruption after his parents separated due to family conflicts, an experience that nearly forced him to drop out in Primary Six.
Later, in Primary Seven, he said, “I got an opportunity from Action in Africa, a miracle which I received at the right time of struggle.”
Courage was raised by his grandparents, who were farmers and struggled to support him and his five siblings. To help sustain himself, he also took on various casual jobs. While attending AIA's Holiday Programs, he was particularly drawn to yoga classes, which helped him stay physically healthy. During his internship with Action in Africa, he gained valuable experience working with children, participating in community development, engaging with primary partner schools, and assisting in After School Programs. These experiences inspired him to pursue a career in helping the vulnerable.
Courage is now working as a Clinical Officer at Access Health Services, where he manages diagnosis and treatment, performs minor surgeries, leads patient care, mobilizes the community, advises on health outbreaks, and ensures quality assurance in the clinic. He said, “I truly appreciate AIA because through my job I manage to support my siblings, but if I had dropped out, I wouldn’t have a chance to provide some materials to them.”
He aspires to upgrade to a more specialized degree, and expressed deep appreciation for Action in Africa: “I owe them a lot, they should be blessed with more funds to continue injecting in the programs so that other community members of Nakuwadde can benefit from the services.”
Courage also recognized how AIA’s free health services inspired his medical path. He said, “Let them continue inspiring more people, which will eliminate poverty from the community of Nakuwadde.”
Though he can’t always be physically present at the Center, Courage said, “Being present at the Center and checking on my AIA family daily might be difficult, but they are in my heart. I really appreciate their work.”
