The Courage to Become: My Master's Journey in a Digital Age

As we close the year, I find myself reflecting on a journey that stretched my abilities, reshaped my ambitions, and occasionally questioned whether coffee counts as a food group. On December 5, 2025, I graduated with my Master’s in Digital Transformation Technology at Soongsil University in Seoul, a milestone that feels less like the end of a program and more like the beginning of a new mission for this Communications Officer at Uganda's Ministry of ICT & National Guidance.

My foundation began at Uganda Christian University’s Faculty of Journalism, where I built skills in storytelling and public engagement. When I first joined the Ministry as a Communication Officer, I focused on messages, narratives, citizens, and clarity. Technology? It mostly meant social media dashboards, content calendars, and producing podcasts that kept our audiences engaged.

But the Ministry has a way of turning curiosity into capability. As I worked on messaging around e-government services, data systems, and digital inclusion, my curiosity transformed into passion. I realized that in the age of digital governance, communication isn’t just support work, it’s infrastructure. If people don’t know a system exists, they simply cannot use it. And that means the government loses efficiency, value, and return on investment.

This realization inspired my research thesis: “Effectiveness of Communication on the Adoption of E-government in Uganda; Focus on the Online Business Registration System (OBRS).” I dug deep into how the government invests significant resources into building digital platforms, but without effective communication, awareness remains low, and uptake remains limited. My findings reaffirmed something critical: technology alone cannot transform public service; communication is the bridge that makes innovation meaningful. This journey turned me from a communication specialist into a proudly tech-driven communicator who sees digital systems as national assets.

In 2023, I completed a Postgraduate Diploma in International Relations, Foreign Policy & European Integration at the Estonian School of Diplomacy. That experience opened my worldview, strengthened my diplomatic awareness, and introduced me to the global digital governance space, planting the first seeds of the tech-driven path I walk today.

January 2025 brought profound national recognition, a hero’s medal from H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the president of Uganda. This honour continues to humble and energize me, affirming that service, commitment, and passion do not go unnoticed. It also reminded me to keep pushing the boundaries of what is possible for our country.
From early 2025, I immersed myself at Soongsil University, South Korea’s first modern university and a powerhouse in technology education, a country often described as the world’s digital laboratory. The program was immersive, rigorous, and every bit as futuristic as I hoped. Courses like the 4th Industrial Revolution & Digital Transformation, Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing & Smart Systems, Blockchain Implementation, ICT Policy, Governance & Digital Society, and Digital Marketing and UI/UX stretched my curiosity, expanded my capabilities, and convinced me that Uganda’s digital future is full of possibilities.

Being the only Ugandan in my program and the entire university came with its colourful set of privileges and challenges. Privilege number one: representing Uganda in every classroom, conversation, and cultural exchange. Privilege number two: having classmates from 15+ countries ask me to teach them Ugandan phrases, which they confidently but incorrectly applied in public. Privilege number three: access to cutting-edge labs, global experts, and an environment that breathes innovation.

Challenges existed, too: I was my own community. Every craving for chapati or katogo reminded me that food is, in fact, part of national identity. I navigated cultural differences, language barriers, freezing winters, and time zone gymnastics in Uganda. Still, every difficulty toughened me. Every cultural exchange expanded me. Every success reminded me that representation matters.

One of the most surreal highlights was being on a Q&A panel for H.E. Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, at the 12-week Sunnong Leadership Academy program I took on Fridays. Representing Uganda and the African continent on such a global stage reminded me that digital transformation is not merely technical work; it is diplomatic, developmental, and deeply human. That moment solidified my commitment to becoming a stronger global voice for Uganda’s digital agenda and climate change.

This year was also marked by profound personal pain. At the end of the summer, I lost my dear mother, a woman whose love was my compass and whose belief in me was unshakable. Navigating grief while completing demanding coursework thousands of miles from home was the hardest thing I have ever done. Yet her faith in me carried me. Her voice stayed with me. Her belief fuelled every assignment, exam, and sleepless night. I dedicate this achievement to her.

My father, my siblings, and my aunties flew all the way from Uganda for my graduation. Their love wrapped around me like amour, and seeing them in that auditorium reminded me that no achievement is ever truly individual; it is held up by the people who pour into us.

This achievement stands on the firm foundation built by the Ministry. I am deeply grateful for the institution’s commitment to up-skilling staff and nurturing talent across all levels. A heartfelt thank you to our Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aminah Zawedde, whose leadership has created a culture where learning is encouraged, innovation is expected, and potential is nurtured.

Now, I stand proudly as the communication girl who evolved into a tech-minded professional, fascinated by data, digital ecosystems, and the joyful chaos of debugging with my global classmates. I return home with deeper knowledge, stronger skills, global exposure, and an even greater love for Uganda’s digital future. I am excited to continue contributing to the Ministry’s vision and to serve a nation that has given me more than I can ever repay.

To every young Ugandan reading this,please know that your dreams are valid; big, audacious, scary, whatever shape they take. If you are waiting for a perfect moment, it may never come. But if you take a bold bet on yourself, you might just surprise the world and even yourself. Step out. Learn. Try. Fail. Get up. Try again. Apply for that course. Pitch that idea. Submit that application. Uganda needs your courage, your creativity, your innovation.

To the Ministry, PS Dr. Aminah Zawedde, my colleagues, my family, and everyone who supported me, thank you for walking this journey with me.