NEVER TOO LATE! 48-Year-Old Pastor to Sit S.4, Eyes Museveni's Works Ministry Top Job

FORT PORTAL — At 48, when many of his peers may have long settled into their careers, businessman and pastor Abel Kanyankole is preparing to sit his Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, with his eyes firmly set on becoming Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport.

Kanyankole, the director of Wendi Driving School and national chairman of the Motorist Professional Drivers Training Association Uganda, is among the candidates preparing to sit this year’s examinations after returning to school in his mid-40s.

The senior pastor at Kahunge Christian Fellowship Church in Kamwenge District joined secondary school in 2023, a year after completing Primary Seven at the age of 44 in 2022.

He enrolled at King of Kings College in Fort Portal City, where he has spent the past four years pursuing his secondary education alongside students considerably younger than him.

On Thursday, Kanyankole joined fellow candidates for a briefing ahead of the examinations scheduled to begin next week, marking another major milestone in his determination to fulfil a dream he believes education can help unlock.

Despite running a business, leading a church and holding a national leadership position in the driving industry, Kanyankole says he realised that his ambitions required him to return to the classroom and acquire the necessary academic qualifications.

Kanyankole attending a dedication service with other candidates

His journey back to school, however, has not been without challenges.

Kanyankole revealed that his education was disrupted after he lost his mother while in Primary One, forcing him to navigate life without completing the academic journey he had hoped for.

He subsequently pursued business and other responsibilities before deciding, years later, to return to school and give his academic dreams another chance.

Now, with his sights set on the Works and Transport Ministry, he hopes to demonstrate that age should not prevent anyone from pursuing education or reaching for bigger opportunities.

Beyond his political ambitions, Kanyankole says his return to school is also intended to inspire adults who abandoned their education to overcome embarrassment and resume their studies.

He credited his teachers and fellow students for helping him adapt to classroom life, saying their support had made it easier to study despite the significant age difference.

The school’s head teacher, Frank Nkwasibwe, described Kanyankole as an exceptional candidate whose determination and clear ambitions had distinguished him from other students.

Nkwasibwe said Kanyankole returned to school with a specific goal and had managed to study and interact with younger learners throughout his time at the institution.

He encouraged adults who had dropped out of school or feared being judged for returning to the classroom to draw inspiration from Kanyankole’s experience.

Rogers Kanakanyonyi, a teacher at the school, said Kanyankole regularly attended lessons and maintained respect for his teachers.

He described him as sociable and cooperative, adding that his commitment to education could encourage other adults who had missed out on completing their studies to reconsider their decisions.

Another teacher, Racheal Ampumza, said Kanyankole had remained humble and respectful despite his age, business engagements and leadership responsibilities.

Ampumza noted that his willingness to attend lessons and work alongside younger students demonstrated his determination to achieve the objectives that brought him back to school.

Kanyankole’s determination has also made an impression on his classmates.

Apollo Turyasingura Senigo said having an older student working towards academic qualifications had encouraged younger candidates to take their education seriously and appreciate the opportunity they had been given.

Another classmate, Jibril Malik, described Kanyankole as a committed student who participates in group discussions and other school activities.

As the UCE examinations approach, Kanyankole’s story offers a powerful reminder that the pursuit of knowledge does not have an age limit.

For the businessman and pastor, passing his examinations would represent more than an academic achievement. It would be another step towards fulfilling his political ambitions and proving that it is never too late to return to the classroom.