On the morning of Friday, February 27, as the academic procession winds its way across Freedom Square on the final day of the 76th Graduation Ceremony at Makerere University, one name will stand out in the Department of Journalism and Communication — Whitney Najjuka.Beside her name is a number: 4.46.At Makerere, that number signifies First Class Honours. It places her on the Vice Chancellor’s List. And this year, it makes her the only First-Class graduate in the Bachelor of Journalism and Communication.But the number tells only part of the story.A Dream RedirectedBorn on March 27, 2002, in Nabbingo, Kyengera Town Council, to Margaret Kusemererwa and Fred Kasirye, Whitney grew up with a clear ambition: to study Law. After excelling at Muto Primary School in Buwama with 8 aggregates in her Primary Leaving Examinations, she proceeded to St. Lucia Hill School, Namagoma, earning 20 aggregates at O-Level and 17 points at A-Level in History, Luganda, and Divinity.She had followed the script. Studied hard. Scored well. Applied for Law.But she missed the pre-entry cut-off.Instead, her name appeared under the Bachelor of Journalism and Communication — another prestigious course at Makerere. Encouraged by her uncle, Sanyu Christopher, she accepted the government-sponsored slot.She entered uncertain.She graduates transformed.The Pivot That Became PurposeWhitney did not arrive at the Department with a childhood dream of becoming a journalist. Journalism was Plan B. But somewhere between lectures in Social and Behavior Change Communication and Applied Strategic Communication, her perspective shifted.She began to see media not merely as headlines and microphones, but as architecture — shaping how societies think, debate, and act.The defining moment came in her third year when the Female Journalist Foundation published her story on the emotional toll of Sexual Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) on survivors. The national response was overwhelming. Conversations erupted, particularly around the role of men in combating gender-based violence.“I realized media doesn’t just report,” she reflects. “It frames how society views a crisis.”Her voice had entered the national conversation.The Discipline Behind 4.46A First Class CGPA at Makerere is built on consistency. For Whitney, it meant ritual.She showed up — on time, every time. Lectures were appointments with her future self. She sought learning beyond the classroom, attending workshops at the Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communication and pursuing mentorship through the Public Relations Association of Uganda (PRAU).She wanted theory anchored in practice.Then there was the commute.From Nabbingo in Wakiso District to Makerere’s main campus in Kampala and back, nearly 20 hours each week dissolved into traffic. Two-hour journeys before morning lectures. Dust. Fatigue. Noise.She learned to manage energy like currency.“I had to be intentional with every remaining hour,” she says. “Excuses were not an option.”Learning to Practice CommunicationClass presentations sharpened her confidence. Research defenses strengthened her analysis. In 2024, the AGMES Fellowship at the Aga Khan Graduate School of Media and Communication funded her capstone project on the mental impact of gender-based violence on survivors.She conducted interviews with sensitivity. Managed trauma ethically. Worked with professional editors.Communication, she learned, is logistics and ethics as much as eloquence.Stepping into IndustryEven before graduation, Whitney had transitioned into professional practice through a mentorship internship at Capital One Group (COG EA Ltd), a strategic marketing communications agency operating across East Africa.Paul Mwirigi Muriungi, the Managing Director and Head of Strategy at the firm, describes her as progressive, intentional, and teachable.“While technical skills can be taught, character, work ethic, and mindset determine long-term success — qualities that Whitney consistently demonstrates,” he said. “She represents the kind of talent the profession needs: thoughtful, adaptable, and committed to excellence.”Looking Beyond HerselfDespite graduating as the only First-Class student in her cohort, Whitney resists mythologizing her achievement.“Success isn’t brilliance alone,” she says. “It’s a daily commitment when nobody is watching.”Her ambitions extend beyond personal accolades. She envisions a stronger Department of Journalism and Communication — equipped with industry-standard cameras, sound booths, newsroom simulations, and deeper investment in data journalism and digital skills.“Access to high-quality equipment and newsroom simulations would better prepare students for industry realities,” she notes. “Data journalism and search engine optimization are no longer optional skills.”Dr. Aisha Nakiwala, Head of the Department of Journalism and Communication, describes Whitney’s First Class as a reflection of “exceptional intellectual ability, discipline, resilience, and sustained dedication.”“Her accomplishment sets a powerful example for continuing students and reaffirms our department’s commitment to nurturing excellence,” Dr. Nakiwala said.Walking into HistoryOn graduation day, applause will rise and fall. Gowns will be folded away. Transcripts will be archived.But what will endure is the story of a young woman from Nabbingo who missed her Law mark, endured 20-hour weekly commutes, discovered that storytelling is power, and now walks into Freedom Square not by accident — but by intention.In a world obsessed with numbers, Whitney Najjuka’s 4.46 is remarkable.But her journey is the greater distinction.The post From Missed Law Cut-Off to First Class: Whitney Najjuka’s Intentional Rise at Makerere was written by the awesome team at Campus Bee.