Ahead of COVID-19, I spent over a decade living in Southern Africa. At the end of 2019, while planning a vacation back home, a friend forwarded a Refactory advert offering a scholarship for the software accelerated certificate on WhatsApp Messenger. Excited by the opportunity to deepen my technology skills, I was eager to join. Although I missed the deadline for the 4th cohort, I couldn’t wait to apply for the 5th.
Joining Refactory was a game-changer. Being selected as the class representative allowed me to connect with nearly everyone in our cohort. We quickly became a close-knit group, and the friendships I formed continue to be central to my life and career.
A defining moment during my time at Refactory was when Eva Mirembe (also in cohort 5) suggested we join the Women in Fintech hackathon by HiPipo. Despite being in the thick of the bootcamp and juggling both commitments, we decided to go for it. Eva took charge and got our team registered. Just a week before the event, I fractured my foot. Determined not to let this setback hold me back, I attended the hackathon on crutches, supported by my amazing teammates, Eva and Isaac Ssemugenyi.
After the bootcamp, I stayed closely involved with the WomenInFintech community, diving into the world of financial technology and entrepreneurship. This experience led me to co-found BN Private Beach & Resort in Jinja, where I have successfully blended my tech skills with business ventures.
This year, I was thrilled to be featured in the HiPipo WomeninFinTech magazine, ranked among the top 100 Women in Fintech, alongside the State Minister of ICT. I was honored to be recognized in HiPipo’s 2024 Cohort of 40 Women Leaders Under 40.
Now, I’m pursuing a Degree in Computer Science at Makerere University, continuing to build on the solid foundation Refactory provided. Refactory didn’t just teach me tech skills; it opened doors to new opportunities and set me on an extraordinary path of personal and professional growth.
