A young lady named Loyce Faith Nangiro has proved that girls should never be sterotyped from going to school, defying the odds to become a remarkable medical doctor in Uganda,

Loyce grew up in a community where girls were not expected to go to school. Instead, they were groomed for marriage, and their education was considered unnecessary.

From an early age, her father made it clear—her role was to herd the family’s animals, not sit in a classroom. “I wasn’t allowed to study. I would watch other 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren go to school while I stayed behind. But I wanted more,” Loyce recalled.

At the age of five, she defied her family’s expectations and secretly enrolled in a nearby primary school.

By the time her father discovered her secret, she had already made significant progress, and pulling her out was no longer an option.

Loyce dreamed of becoming a doctor, but her family had other plans. They arranged a marriage for her, believing it was time for her to settle down. “No one believed in my dream. They thought it made no sense to spend five years in university when marriage was an option,” She said.

”My village had never seen a female doctor before. Cows for my dowry had already been prepared, and meetings had taken place. But I refused to give up. I wanted to be the first doctor here—to inspire other girls,” Loyce added.

Having no financial support because of her own decision, Loyce kept applying for scholarships and never gave up on her dreams.

Eventually, she received a private scholarship—but it was for a pharmacy degree, not medicine. Though grateful, she knew pharmacy wasn’t her true calling. Determined to follow her passion, she approached the university with a bold request:

“If I study pharmacy, I’ll end up working in the city. But if I study medicine, I can serve my community, where doctors are desperately needed.”

The university listened. She was admitted to the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery program at the University of Uganda. With the support of two individuals, who helped fund her tuition, she pursued her dream.

After five years, Loyce graduated as a doctor. She quickly secured a job in Italy, where she was well-paid and worked in comfortable conditions. But only ten days into the job, she made a shocking decision—she resigned.

“Everyone thought I was crazy. The pay was good, the environment was great. But I wasn’t fulfilling my purpose. In the private hospital, I was treating wealthy patients who had access to specialists. Meanwhile, in my home village, people struggled to even see a general doctor.”

Following her heart, she left the city and began volunteering at Amudat Hospital, serving the community that once doubted her dreams.

Looking forward. Loyce aims to provide school fees and necessities to more girls in her community. As for her medical career, she plans to pursue a master’s degree in pediatrics, followed by public health and research.