education 18 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Does Success Mean Chasing Perfection? A Tragic Reminder from Uganda
The heartbreaking death of A-level student Genevieve Juliana Mutyaba, who scored 19 out of 20 points, highlights the dangers of equating success with perfection. Columnist Daniel Kalinaki questions societal pressures on youth and calls for kinder expectations. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/columnists/daniel-kalinaki/must-success-be-defined-as-the-pursuit-of-perfection-i-think-not-5395568
A promising student from Mengo Secondary School in Kampala, Genevieve Juliana Mutyaba, ended her life shortly after receiving her A-level results. Despite achieving an impressive 19 out of 20 points, she faced taunts from peers who expected a perfect score.
Her father described her as one of the brightest and most disciplined students, with dreams of studying engineering at Makerere University. Neighbors noted that constant remarks about her ‘failure’ to hit 20 points weighed heavily on her, leading to her tragic passing in Nansana.
Columnist Daniel Kalinaki reflects on this loss with parental pain, asking how society reached a point where hard work isn’t enough—perfection is demanded. He blames competitive schools focused on grades, media hype around top performers, and parents pushing for more without handling setbacks well.
While competition can drive achievement, without support it turns toxic. Kalinaki urges redefining success amid uncertain job markets, emphasizing resilience over flawlessness. Doing one’s best, being kind to oneself, and embracing imperfection are true paths forward.
‘Go well, Genevieve; you were enough,’ he concludes.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)