FORT PORTAL UGANDA: A 48-year-old Ugandan businessman and pastor, Bishop Abel Kanyankole, is among the candidates preparing to sit this year’s Uganda Certificate of Education (UCE) examinations, hoping to fulfil his dream of becoming the Minister of Works and Transport, a position currently held by Fred Byamukama.
Kanyankole, the director of Wendi Driving School and national chairman of the Motorist Professional Drivers Training Association Uganda, returned to formal education after years away from the classroom, demonstrating his determination to advance his academic qualifications despite his age and professional responsibilities.
After completing Primary Seven, he returned to school in 2022 at the age of 44 and sat the Primary Leaving Examination (PLE). He subsequently joined King of Kings College in Fort Portal City in 2023 to pursue secondary education.
Kanyankole was among the candidates who attended a briefing at the school on Thursday ahead of the examinations.
He is now among more than 500,000 Senior Four candidates across Uganda preparing to sit their final examinations, which are scheduled to begin on Monday.
Kanyankole said his decision to return to school was driven by his desire to advance his career and fulfil his political ambitions, despite already running a successful business and serving in religious leadership.
He said he had come to realise that his achievements in business and other areas of life could not take him to the next level without the necessary academic qualifications.
His educational journey has not been without challenges. Kanyankole revealed that he struggled to continue with his education after losing his mother while in Primary One.
After years of concentrating on business and other responsibilities, he eventually decided to return to the classroom and pursue the education he had missed.
He said his long-term ambition is to become Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, a goal he hopes to pursue through continued personal development and academic advancement.
Beyond his political ambitions, Kanyankole hopes his return to school will inspire other people who abandoned their education to reconsider their decisions and take advantage of opportunities to resume learning.
He credited his teachers and fellow students for supporting him throughout his studies, saying their encouragement helped him adjust to classroom life despite the significant age difference between him and his classmates.
Frank Nkwasibwe, the head teacher of King of Kings College, described Kanyankole as an exceptional candidate whose determination to pursue education later in life had set him apart from other students.
Nkwasibwe said Kanyankole returned to school with a clear goal and had managed to interact and study alongside younger candidates despite the difference in age.
He encouraged adults who abandoned their education or feel embarrassed about returning to school to draw inspiration from Kanyankole’s journey.
Rogers Kanakanyonyi, a teacher at the school, said Kanyankole had consistently attended classes and maintained respect for his teachers throughout his time at the institution.
Kanakanyonyi described him as social and cooperative, adding that his commitment to learning should encourage other adults who did not complete school to return to the classroom.
Another teacher, Racheal Ampumza, said Kanyankole remained humble and respectful towards his teachers despite his age, leadership responsibilities and business engagements.
She said his willingness to attend lessons and work with younger students demonstrated his determination to achieve the goals that brought him back to school.
Kanyankole’s determination has also attracted admiration from his fellow students, who say his example has encouraged them to take their education seriously.
Apollo Turyasingura Senigo, one of his classmates, said seeing an older student working towards further qualifications reminded younger candidates not to take their opportunity to study for granted.
Another classmate, Jibril Malik, described Kanyankole as a committed student who participates in group discussions and other school activities.
The accounts from his teachers and classmates reflect the support he has received as he balances his educational ambitions with his responsibilities outside school.
Kanyankole’s return to school comes after a long journey through different occupations and business ventures.
According to his background, he has worked in several sectors, including entertainment as a disc jockey popularly known as DJ Shamb, hawking goods in Mubende, fishing on Lake Victoria, and working in the boda-boda, taxi and bus transport industries.
He also worked as a car washer at a washing bay and sold groundnuts aboard passenger buses.
Through persistence and hard work, he gradually built his transport-related businesses, eventually establishing Wendi Driving School, an institution involved in driver and mechanics training.
Today, he serves as the school’s director, overseeing an operation that has expanded to several locations across Uganda.
The school has branches in Fort Portal, Hoima, Masindi, Masaka, Kampala, Kahunge in Kamwenge, Kagadi, Mubende and Kyegegwa.
It also provides mobile enrolment services in collaboration with relevant government agencies to help make driver training and licensing services more accessible, including in hard-to-reach areas.
Beyond business, Kanyankole has developed an interest in road safety and professional driver training.
His background states that the loss of his brothers, Bagenyi Barnabas, Basimakyi Amos and Basimakyi Moses, in road-related accidents influenced his decision to establish a driver training school.
The experience inspired him to promote responsible driving, professional training and improved standards within Uganda’s transport sector.
Through Wendi Driving School and his leadership role in the Motorist Professional Drivers Training Association Uganda, he has advocated for professional development among commercial drivers, boda-boda riders, taxi operators and heavy commercial vehicle drivers.
His work focuses on encouraging drivers to obtain appropriate training and valid driving permits while improving their knowledge of road safety and professional conduct.
Kanyankole also serves as a senior pastor at Kahunge Christian Fellowship Church in Kamwenge District, where he provides religious leadership and mentorship.
His responsibilities in business, religious ministry and the transport sector have not prevented him from returning to formal education.
He is married to Basemera Florence Kanyankole, and the couple have nine children—seven daughters and two sons—and one grandchild.
His return to school represents another stage in a journey that has included entrepreneurship, religious service, professional leadership and advocacy for road safety.
As he prepares to sit the UCE examinations alongside younger candidates, Kanyankole hopes his experience will encourage adults who left school prematurely to reconsider their educational ambitions.
His journey highlights the challenges of returning to the classroom later in life while managing business and family responsibilities.
For Kanyankole, completing secondary education is not simply about obtaining an academic certificate. It is part of a wider ambition to advance his career, strengthen his professional development and pursue his dream of becoming Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport.
His next step will be to complete the UCE examinations, after which he can determine how best to continue his education and work towards his long-term goals.
