Born and raised in rural Nyagasambu, Rwamagana, a district of landscapes in Eastern Rwanda, Umuhoza Solange is the eldest of five children. From a humble family, she is currently pursuing her dream of a medical career at UGHE; aspiring for a global health leader career that would impact her community. 

Early Childhood  

Solange recalls the day she came home from nursery school to find her father gone – not dead but absent from her life from that moment forward. This abrupt departure left her mother as the sole bread winner for the family, a role that brought immense hardship.  

“I thought he would come back later that day. We waited, but until today, we don’t know his tales. I don’t even miss him any more.” Solange narrates.  

As the firstborn, Solange experienced the harsh realities of life early on. Her mother has made countless sacrifices to ensure that Solange and her siblings had food, clothing, education, and healthcare. The family’s teeny-tiny main source of income was farming: cultivating beans, potatoes, and matoke. Additionally, her mother would sell fruits to earn extra coins for their basic needs. 

Reflecting on these challenges, Solange says that having their basic needs all at once was always impossible.  

 “There were times when we had food but no school fees, or we paid school fees but had no access to healthcare. We could never have everything we needed at once.” Solange says 

Sometimes it would get worse and more than farming and selling fruits is needed. Solange recalls her mother selling plots of land, at least to have the necessary needs for them. However, it was never enough. She attributes much of these hardships to poverty and to the fact that they were fighting alone.

Education Background and Achievements 

Despite her challenging background, Solange grew up with an optimistic mindset, inspired by the strength and resilience of her mother, referred to the strongest woman she ever knew. Her determination to change her family’s circumstances fueled her hard work and eventually academic success. She used the chances of being schooled – which not all her siblings got, for the best.   

From nursery to primary school and through to her Ordinary and Advanced Levels – both in remote areas, Solange consistently excelled. Her outstanding performance in high school earned her an internship in a bank, “a significant milestone indicating a brighter future” she hopes.

Solange’s academic achievements have been outstanding. She notably won an award from the Imbuto Foundation for her top performance in Advanced Level, ranking among the top 30 performers nationally. This recognition, along with the other five-month paid internship at the bank, has been a source of relief and pride for her and her family. Particularly the stipend from the internship allowed her to support her mother and pay for her siblings’ school fees – at least for five months. 

Journey with UGHE 

Upon finishing high school, Solange, inspired by the healthcare situation in her community, decided to pursue a medical career with aspirations of becoming a dental surgeon and medical analyst. She was introduced to UGHE medical school by a friend, and prepared rigorously for the admission exams, both written and oral, refining her English and revisiting her science courses. 

 Eventually, her hard work paid off when she received an acceptance letter from the UGHE.  

“I didn’t know how to react. I just danced and thanked God, with my family!” Solange says with a smile. 

She knew this would change her life, from being dictated by the harsh background to being led by higher aspirations.

Accompanied by her mother and grandmother to UGHE Butaro campus, Solange began her academic journey in 2022, embarking on a dual degree program: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Master of Science in Global Health Delivery (MBBS-MGHD), class of 2029. Her heart was filled with gratitude and hope she said. The supportive environment at Butaro campus has positively influenced her academically and personally. The accessibility of lecturers and the inclusive campus culture have had her expectations exceeded, making her feel more confident and capable. 

“Everyone on campus is kind and nice. Students, faculty, everyone lets you in for an inquiry and helps you out.” Solange says.    

The Highest Aspirations 

Competence, compassion, and commitment are the pillars driving Solange’s aspirations. She is set to become a global health analyst and dental surgeon, who empathizes and understands her patients. She remembers seeing people from her natal community traveling long distances to Kigali for dental care, a situation she finds unacceptable. In her view, everyone has the right to access healthcare, and denying this right is an act of dehumanization. This has inspired her to think about establishing a Non- Profit Organization to help vulnerable communities access health services without disparities and inequities, a dream she hopes to realise in the future. 

Solange believes that bringing health services closer to the population is crucial. She is passionate about educating communities on health matters, empowering them to make informed decisions.“Providing basic dental care education to the community is my first priority,” Solange says.

“Many people don’t know they should change their toothbrushes, and some don’t even have one.”

If given a platform to address the world, Solange’s message would be clear:

“Healthcare is a fundamental right for everyone, regardless of race, ethnicity, age, geographical location, or any other factor. Denying this right is a grave injustice and dehumanizes individuals.”