Born in a refugee family in rural Uganda, Jackson Kwikiriza lost sight in one eye as a child after an injury, which made him a target for bullying at school. Despite the challenge of poverty, his disability and other issues he narrates in his memoir, Kwikiriza persevered with his education, became a teacher and built a career in finance. ALSO READ: From Kenya to Ghana and Rwanda: One woman's journey to her true calling The CEO of the Association of Microfinance Institutions in Rwanda (AMIR) talks about his personal journey in his autobiography Blessing in Disguise, which was launched in August. He wrote the book to tell people about his childhood struggles, visual impairment, family challenges, and the resilience he developed, while also noting the vital support he received from family, friends, and mentors. Humble beginnings Kwikiriza was born in 1977 into a family of Rwandan refugees who lived in Rakai District in southwestern Uganda. “I was born in a very poor family that did not have anything in our name—no land title, no cow, no goat, not even a chicken. We survived by the mercy of relatives and friends,” he said in an interview with The New Times. His parents moved frequently in search of better living conditions, eventually settling in Kachera near Lyantonde District. Kwikiriza was the only one of nine siblings born in a hospital. At age five, a thorn injured his right eye while he was taking cows to a well at Lake Kachera. His parents rushed him to Mulago Hospital in Kampala, but despite treatment, he lost sight in that eye. The disability made him bullied by classmates, who often mocked him. Yet, the experience fueled his determination. He committed to working hard and competing with fellow students, refusing to give excuses of his impairment. His schooling was further complicated by his family’s frequent moves. He walked 10 kilometers daily to Kachera Primary School and later 20 kilometers to Rwanga Primary School, both unrecognized under Uganda’s education system at the time. This meant he could not sit for national exams. With his mother’s help, he joined Kiziba Primary School, completed Primary Seven with top grades, and later continued O-Level at Kiziba High School before doing the national exams at Kakoma Secondary School. After his father’s death during Senior Six, financial hardships forced him to rely on friends. When fees at Alliance School in Mbarara became unaffordable, he dropped out in 1999 and moved to Rwanda. In Nyagatare District, he began teaching nursery children under a tree. His education continued when his mother reached out to a relative who sponsored his Senior Five and Six. To survive, Kwikiriza tutored peers in exchange for food. He continued excelling academically, eventually emerged among the top performers at his school. But he did not get a government scholarship to go to university and his family could not afford to pay the tuition. A turning point came when he learned of Makerere University’s Affirmative Action programme for students with disabilities. He joined Makerere University in 2002, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Education. “I chose education because I didn’t want to be unemployed even for a single day. Teaching was a guaranteed job that would allow me to support my eight siblings,” he explained. He later earned an MBA in Management and professional certifications, including the Project Management Professional credential. Kwikiriza returned to Rwanda, crossing the Kagitumba border in December 2007. He thought he would get a job very fast, so he and his mother spent their first night at the home of a relative who told him that securing a job in Rwanda meant passing exams with at least 70 percent. Before long, he began walking the streets of Kigali, moving from Remera through Sonatube and Rwandex, searching even for internship opportunities. After a month, he secured a position at Kabuga High School. “At Kabuga High School, my salary was Rwf65,000 a month. Yet today, you find youth who have not finished university demanding Rwf300,000 or Rwf500,000. My message to them is to never undermine any offer. Show what you can do and you will be promoted as time goes by,” he said. He later worked at Groupe Scolaire APRED Ndera and Riviera High School. Within a year, he was recruited by the National Curriculum Development Center to contribute to the national curriculum and mark Senior Six national exams. The power of social capital The author said a person's social network can be decisive in their personal development and professional career. “Social capital is very important because you don’t know when it will transition into what you want,” he said, quoting Proverbs 22:1: “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.” He recalled the generosity of people who supported him during secondary school, and later became his beneficiaries. You should always embrace gratitude, appreciate people who have supported you, as you never know the doors that will open later, Kwikiriza said. At the same time, he advises youth not to compromise values or ethics while building social networks. Shifting to finance In 2010, Kwikiriza joined the Rwanda Cooperative Agency as an Education and Training Officer. From there, he pursued further studies: a postgraduate diploma at the University of Nairobi’s Cooperative School, another at Uganda Management Institute, and an MBA in management at Adventist University of Central Africa. His commitment and experience led him to AMIR, where he served as Head of Programs before being appointed CEO in 2022. As a leader, he values humility and collaboration. He noted that titles don’t make a person important; what matters is how one supports colleagues. Writing for inspiration Writing Blessing in Disguise was not an easy task for Kwikiriza. He hesitated to share his personal experience and often pondered what should be included and what should not. Yet, he felt that telling his story could inspire others facing hardship. He noted that faith and discipline guided him throughout his life. Concerned about the vulnerability of his one good eye, he stayed focused, avoiding mistakes and remaining diligent. “If other children had two eyes and I had one, I always thought: what if this one gets damaged too? That kept me disciplined,” he recalled. He lives by three principles: work hard until it hurts, pray without ceasing, and embrace gratitude. Each educational milestone, from Primary Seven to Senior Six, and then Makerere University, fueled bigger dreams for Kwikiriza. Now a father of four sons, he hopes his memoir encourages readers to view obstacles as opportunities. He considers his visual impairment a “blessing in disguise” that opened the door to higher education and personal development. He said that the book is like a “personal Bible” which would serve as a compass beyond the Holy Book, guiding him and offering encouragement to people who might be struggling with the same battles he once faced. He wanted to write the book so that his children could always read it and know the life of their parents. However, he said his inner voice urged him to write not only for his children, who are growing up in far different circumstances, born in Kigali at King Faisal Hospital and DMC, raised in homes with clean water, electricity, and schools nearby, but also for Rwandan youth and the public. Copies of the book are available in Kigali at Healing Centre Church, select supermarkets in Kanombe, through direct distribution, and are planned for sale at Ikirezi Bookshop, Kigali Heights, and online platforms, including Amazon Kindle. A copy goes for Rwf20,000.
