Esther Nakajjigo: Young fighter for women and girls

Esther Nakajjigo’s Liteside

Any three things we don’t know about you?

I am a very happy person and I love people as everyone becomes my friend in the shortest time possible.

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Chatting with people and listening to people’s stories makes me happy and I long to help them.

What is your greatest fear?

Failing to hit my targets; for instance when I started the challenge, I didn’t anticipate success because it started from just a sketchy thing so I feared to face it. It has however turned out to be great and impactful. I therefore fear to fail the people who have great hopes in me.

What is the trait you most deplore in yourself?

Sometimes, I am too friendly which to others looks unprofessional but I can’t do away with my nature.

What is the trait you most deplore in others?

Being quick to judge and less considerate to others.

Which living person do you most admire?

I am yet to discover that individual.

What is your greatest extravagance?

I love to take care of myself even when I don’t have too much money.

What is the greatest thing you have ever done?

It is still work in progress. We don’t have a research hospital in Uganda to handle critical women issues and my goal is to put up one. It will be the greatest thing I have done.

What is your current state of mind?

I am very happy and not complaining.

What do you consider the most overrated virtue?

Silent depression of focusing on things that we cannot change or have little authority over such as transfer of soccer players in European teams. There are several other issues that require our attention and can actually yield results for many people.

What does being powerful mean to you?

Being powerful comes with the ability to give a second chance in life to those who have given up and thereafter creating a smile on them. This gives hope after what one would call the greatest challenge.

On what occasion do you lie?

Sometimes the truth may be so bitter so a lie may save a situation.

What do you most dislike about your appearance?

I love everything about me.

Which living person do you most despise?

Everyone has reasons for doing whatever they do and there is always room for change so I don’t despise anyone.

What is the quality you most like in a man?

Being more than a parent.

What is the quality you most like in a woman?

Every woman is a parent who should be selfless.

What or who is the greatest love of your life

My family; especially my mother Christine Kateregga

When and where were you happiest

Opening up Princess Diana Health Centre at the beginning of 2014. I was also happy receiving my first award in 2014. Being recognized internationally as the only project from Africa that scooped an award was also a happy moment for me and colleagues.

Which talent would you most like to have?

I love to sing but I am not very talented at it.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Absolutely nothing.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I can’t underestimate the worth in being an ambassador of hope for women and girls.

If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

I am okay coming back in the same shell with all my inside and outside. I am proud of who I am.

Where would you most like to live?

Uganda is a very beautiful country and I want to be part of the solutions to its problems.

What is your most treasured possession?

My awards portray my work and motivate me to work harder.

What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

There is nothing comparable to being written off in life and regarded as nothing.

What is your favorite occupation?

I have been so buried up in helping young people; especially cutting down teenage pregnancies.

What do you most value in your friends?

Their patience, commitment to help, and belief in me. I treasure moments of learning from each other.

Who are your favorite writers?

I love reading inspirational stories and biographies of people so I am not glued on any writer.

Which historical figure do you most identify with?

The Princess of Wales; Princess Diana. She had it all and didn’t know how it feels to sleep hungry but stepped out of her comfort zone to mingle with and help those of lower calibre.

Who are your real life heroes?

Princess Diana is the one person I read about always.

What is your greatest regret?

Everything in life is a lesson.

How would you like to die?

I hate to think about death.

What is your motto?

If you want to create an impact in people’s lives, live, love and work with them.