When Samantha Muganza’s father called her on the morning of August 31, she didn’t know what to make of it.
He had just received a phone call from the Ministry of Education, notifying him that his daughter was among the top performers in the 2024/2025 A-Level national exams.
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"I was at home, and he was at work. He called and told me. Our first thought was: this can’t be true. Maybe it’s a scam,” Muganza said.
But it wasn’t. The 18-year-old scored 93.93 percent making her the top student in Hospitality and Tourism under the Technical Secondary School (TSS) category.
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The news came a day before official results were released on Monday, September 1.
"When we got the confirmation message, that is when it started to feel real. I got very excited. I cried, tears of joy. I just said, ‘Thank you, Lord.’ I had prayed for it. My parents prayed for it. My friends too. I was thankful to everyone who supported me.”
Muganza studied at MIPC, a school in Musanze District. She said her preparation for the national exams didn’t involve intense routines or strict study schedules.
"It wasn’t hard for me; people have different study strategies but mine wasn’t waking up early or staying up late. I used my time well, took time to rest, and stayed organised. I was confident and focused.
"I didn’t fear the exams. I trusted myself. I went in with just me, my pen, and my paper,” she said.
Her passion for hospitality and tourism is more than just a career, but a way to connect with people and promote her country.
"I want to continue in this field, I like interacting with people. I enjoy speaking with tourists and helping them love what I love. I especially want international visitors to love Rwanda the way I do.”
Muganza is the fourth of five children. Her father is a businessman; her mother, Marceline Uwiragiye, is a lecturer at the University of Lay Adventists of Kigali (UNILAK). She said both played a role in helping her succeed.
"They supported me in every way, they gave me advice when I needed it. When I felt discouraged, they were there. Financially, emotionally, whatever I needed, they provided it,” she noted.
Her mother said that it was about being fully involved, not just providing basics, but creating a relationship of trust.
"We are overjoyed. We thank God who made all this possible. But as parents, we also had a role. We worked with her teachers and stayed close. For a girl child, you have to be there emotionally. It’s more than giving food or school fees. You have to talk with her, give her space to open up,” Uwiragiye noted.
She described Muganza as a naturally social and expressive person. When she chose tourism, her parents supported the decision without hesitation.
She noticed that the course matched her daughter’s personality, which made it easier for her to excel.
Uwiragiye called upon other parents to also pay attention to their children’s interests and support the paths they choose, not just impose their own wishes, but consider what their children are truly capable of. After all, parents know their children best, having watched them grow over the years.
Muganza said that seeing girls succeed is important because it helps change the mindset of those who still believe girls aren’t as capable as boys. She hopes to see even more girls in top positions in the years to come.
"This is just the start. I want to encourage every girl in the country to push harder, to know what they want, and go after it. Come 2025/2026, I want to see many girls on stage, smiling in front of leaders, proud of what they have achieved,” she said.
Asked who inspires her the most, she said that it’s her mother because she is always working toward a better future, and she always has a smile on her face.