NAKAKAAWA FAITH PRISCILLA
The hostels at Nkumba University are more than just a place to rest; they’re a community where students learn to survive and thrive. Kobusingye Brenda, a second-year mass communication student, described hostel life as “chaotic, but it’s our chaos.” She smiled as she slipped a page in her notebook, adding, “You learn to survive here. You share everything, including food, Wi-Fi, even heartbreak.”
Downstairs, a group of business administration students huddled around a charcoal stove, cooking katogo for lunch. Nalumansi Aidah, the self-proclaimed chef, stirred the pot carefully, joking, “Here, you either learn to cook or you starve. And don’t trust the canteen prices when you are broke.” Everyone laughed, knowing the truth in her words.
For final-year students, hostel life is a test of independence. Sandra Nalukenge, a hotel and management student, peeked out from her door, saying, “Hostel life teaches you independence. You manage your own money, your meals, your laundry, even your peace. No one is going to remind you to read, grow up, or fail.”
Life in the hostels isn’t always rosy. Weekends are filled with parties, and noise complaints are common, especially during exam season. But amidst the chaos, students make it work. When the power cuts out, candles are lit, power banks are brought out, and data bundles are used sparingly. “This is normal,” said Leonard Ssempijja, a law student. “You come to Nkumba and expect luxury? No way. But it’s the struggle that builds you.”
As the night deepens, students either stay up chatting in corridors or slip into their beds. Every cracked wall, every broken lock on a shower door, and every shared midnight snack has a story behind it. Hostel life at Nkumba University is about discovering who you are in the process. It’s unpredictable, loud, and deeply personal, but it’s an experience that shapes students into independent individuals.
