Kampala, March 1, 2026 – Born without hands and legs and once forced to beg on the streets of Kampala, Fatuma Nabuulime, popularly known as “Wonder Gal,” has defied the odds to graduate from Makerere University.
The 26-year-old was among hundreds of students who received degrees during the 76th graduation ceremony at Makerere University. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Administration under the government scholarship scheme for students with disabilities.
A Difficult Beginning
Nabuulime was born in Kisekka Village, Lwengo District, into a poor family of subsistence farmers. Life was extremely difficult. Her parents separated, leaving her mother struggling to raise the children alone.
At just five years old, a relative took her to Kampala, promising to enroll her in school and provide care. Instead, she was taken to the streets to beg. Every day, she would sit along busy streets from morning until evening, collecting money that supported the household she lived in.
She later learned that she had been used as a source of income. The money she collected fed the family and even helped them acquire property, while she continued living in hardship.
Education Against the Odds
After years on the streets, she began attending school while still begging before and after classes to pay for her needs. At one point, she returned to the village, but nearby schools refused to admit her because of her disability.
Her turning point came in 2011 when a well-wisher and an NGO offered to sponsor her education on condition that she left the streets. She accepted and joined Jireh Children’s Centre in Masaka.
School life was not easy. She faced isolation, hunger, and moments of doubt. At one point, her mother advised her to drop out. But she refused to give up.
She passed her Primary Leaving Examinations in 2014 and continued through secondary school despite studying in institutions not designed for learners with disabilities. She later earned three principal passes at A-Level, qualifying for admission to Makerere University.
Becoming “Wonder Gal”
During high school, her resilience and independence amazed her school director, who nicknamed her “Wonder Gal.” Despite her disability, she learned to use a computer, write independently, and actively participate in school life.
At university, she faced accommodation challenges because she required a self-contained room for personal care. With government support and donor assistance, she managed to complete her studies while living in private hostels.
To support herself, she started selling earrings to fellow students. Later, she joined TikTok, where she began live streaming motivational sessions. Her unique approach — peeling matooke while engaging viewers — gained massive attention.
Today, she has over 810,000 followers and more than three million likes on TikTok. She uses part of her earnings to prepare and distribute food to needy people in Kampala and Wakiso.
Looking Ahead
Drawing from her life experience, Nabuulime hopes to start an organisation to support people living with disabilities by providing shelter, food, and access to education.
Her message to others with disabilities is simple: never give up.
“People may underestimate you,” she says, “but keep pushing. Your goals are achievable.”
From begging on the streets to walking across the graduation stage at Uganda’s top university, Wonder Gal’s journey stands as a powerful story of resilience, determination, and hope.
