“I had to sit home between October to January,” Guma recalls. “It was a time to reflect but also survive. You start thinking beyond just your papers. How do I get food? How do I stay sane?”

Namulwana was born and raised in Mukono, and studied at Seeta Parents Primary School, where she got four aggregates in her Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE).

“I felt an overwhelming sense of pride and excitement,” she says, recalling graduation day. “Wearing the new  gown, hearing my name called, my family cheering—it was like a dream come true,” she adds

“You’d be surprised how many students are hooked,” one student says, pulling back the curtain on a hidden crisis. “They can’t pay rent, but they’re high every day.”

Students must also be aware of financial traps, which range from mobile loans to “buy now, pay later” schemes. A student who understands how money works can anticipate these pitfalls and take the safer and better route.

The block provides signage, ramps, handrails, squat toilets with grab bars and tactile markers to accommodate people with disabilities and according to the law.