Gender: Male
Talent Area: Dancing, Playing Instruments

Family Background

Mahad Ssessanga was born and raised in Masese slums of Jinja City, Eastern Uganda. He lost his mother while in Primary Two and his father in Primary Three. Following the loss of both parents, he was taken in by his paternal aunt, who raised him in a household of five children.

His aunt’s only source of income was rent from five small single rooms, which provided just enough for basic household needs. This income was insufficient to support Mahad and his siblings in well-resourced schools. As a result, Mahad attended a poorly funded government-aided school, where he completed his primary education under challenging conditions that affected the quality of learning he received.

Despite these difficulties, Mahad remained committed to his education and demonstrated a strong desire to continue studying. He was equally active in performing arts and took part in the school choir.

How Rockies Organization Stepped In

Mahad joined Rockies Organization in 2022 during his Primary Seven vacation, At that time, he was at a serious risk of dropping out of school due to his aunt’s inability to afford secondary school fees.

Although he did not initially stand out as exceptionally talented, Mahad demonstrated remarkable determination and a strong willingness to learn. Introduced to Rockies by his sister, his passion for education and openness to developing skills in the performing arts convinced the organization’s management to give him an opportunity.

Since joining, he has shown steady improvement, discipline, and commitment. He was subsequently enrolled at St. Andrew’s College, Ssanda, where he is currently studying in Senior Three (2025).

Talent, Uniqueness & Achievements

Mahad is developing into a capable cultural dancer and instrumentalist. At the moment, he can perform several dances including Ekitaguriro, Runyege–Ntogoro, and Ekizino from Western Uganda, Kadodi from Eastern Uganda, Larakaraka from Northern Uganda, and Zulu dance from South Africa.

In addition to dancing, Mahad is steadily building his skills in playing musical instruments. He has currently mastered percussion drums and continues to improve through regular practice and training.

Aspirations

Mahad aspires to become an electrical engineer. He is motivated by a desire to build a stable future for himself and to overcome the hardships he has faced through education and skill development.

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