By Isaac Akugizibwe

KIU, Main Campus - With only a semester away from attaining her degree in Mass Communication, Elizabeth Ankunda has turned her attention towards establishing a footing in mainstream media, with the long-term goal of vying for a parliamentary seat.

Fuelled by an intense desire for fame, she believes her one-way ticket to celebrity status lies in making it in mainstream media and grabbing the spotlight.

"I love to be famous, a celebrity. I want to be the first in our family to make it to the spotlight," Ankunda says.

"Besides that, I have always had a dream of becoming a politician to serve my people of Gomba West Constituency. I hope Mass Communication will give me a favourable platform to achieve that goal as well. I want people to know me before going for the main goal," she adds.

Despite the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the fame-hungry Ankunda maintains that it is still possible to achieve her dreams in the next five years. She wants to become a prominent television news anchor before transitioning into a legislator in the Parliament of Uganda in 2026.

"I am very determined and committed towards achieving my dreams in the time I want," she says.

"I am so hopeful that I will be a Member of Parliament representing Gomba West Constituency after the next five years," the ambitious Ankunda affirms.

Achieving her dreams is a tall order by all standards, so she is already doing her groundwork.

She is working with opinion leaders in her community to lay the foundations for a political challenge whilst doing news anchoring with SETV, an online news website so as to hone her skills in journalism.

The COVID-19 lockdown has not come in vain for her.

"I have used this lockdown to practice more and more, improve my voicing and news presentation. I have also learnt new multimedia skills for the time I've spent at SETV," she reveals.

With all eyes now on President Yoweri Museveni to reopen academic institutions, Ankunda is raring to go.

Courtesy Photo