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Today, we feature Mwiyikinwa Nathanael Watuwa, a standout candidate from Mbale Tower Day and Boarding Primary School whose performance in the 2025 Primary Leaving Examinations (PLE) has captured the region’s attention. Nathanael achieved a remarkable Aggregate 5, scoring Distinction 1s in English, Social Studies, and Science, and a Distinction 2 in Mathematics.
His success is a crowning achievement for his school, which saw 84 students out of 97 pass in Division One this year. What makes Nathanael’s story particularly compelling is his unwavering focus—balancing rigorous daily revision with a deep spiritual foundation and a childhood dream of becoming a neurosurgeon. Below, he shares the journey behind his success.
How did Nathanael feel when you saw your Aggregate 5 results?
“I felt happy and excited when I saw my aggregate 5,” Nathanael says. While he worked tirelessly for excellence, the final ranking still came with a bit of a shock. “I didn’t expect to be the second-best student in Mbale Tower Primary School”.
What was your daily study routine like in P.7?
Nathanael explains that his success was born from a very specific and disciplined schedule. “My daily study routine in P.7 was to revise every day—every morning before a lesson and every evening before I go to bed”.
Which subjects were your favorite, and which did you find hardest to revise?
While he excelled across the board, Nathanael had clear preferences. “My favorite subject was Science,” he notes, though he admits that the path wasn’t always easy. “The hardest to revise was Mathematics”.
What “tricks” or methods did you use to remember everything you learned?
To handle the heavy P.7 syllabus, Nathanael relied on the power of repetition. “The tricks and methods I used to remember everything I learned was to keep on revising until I mastered it inside my head”. He notes that the biggest challenge was “keeping notes inside my head… more so if the topic is large”.
How did your teachers at Mbale Tower help you reach this level?
He credits the faculty at his school, which operates under the motto “Education Is Your Lamp Stand,” for his growth. “Teachers at Mbale Tower helped me to reach this high level by guiding me, teaching me everything I needed to know, and providing support where necessary”.
Who was your biggest mentor at school, and what was their best advice?
“One teacher who inspired me the most was Mr. Onyapi Edwin,” Nathanael recalls. The advice he received from Mr. Onyapi became his personal mission statement: “If you have a goal, a dream to chase, you have to start now and work hard for it”.
How did your parents and your faith help you through the exam period?
Faith was a cornerstone of his preparation. “My parents supported and encouraged me during exam time by praying for me, by guiding me, and by helping me with everything I needed”. He specifically highlights a verse from his mother, John 14:14, which says: “Whatsoever you ask me in my name, I will do it”. Nathanael believes this was key because “if you ask God for anything, He will provide it to you”.
How did you manage to stay calm and brave during the actual PLE exams?
“I managed to stay calm and not get scared during PLE exams by praying every day, preparing myself, and listening to my teachers,” he says. He took their warnings to heart: “They told me that being scared is the first step to failure, so I just was brave”.
What did you do to relax or have fun when you weren’t reading books?
It wasn’t all serious study; Nathanael found time to be a kid. “I would talk with my friends, I would play a bit,” he says. Interestingly, he even turned learning into a social activity: “We had this thing where we had to revise and then some days later, we would try to ask ourselves what exactly we revised—somewhat like a game”.
What is next for you, and what is your ultimate career dream?
Nathanael is now looking toward Namilyango College for his Senior One because of its strength in the sciences. His long-term goal is as ambitious as his exam results: “When I grow up, I want to be a neurosurgeon”. For those following in his footsteps, he offers three words to live by: “Hard work, believing in God, and concentration”.
