Kasifa Kakai, a former primary school teacher, fled her home country of Uganda in 1998.

"My family was affected by the political problems in the country. It was not safe. I had to leave and sought refuge in Kenya."

She later returned to Uganda but soon had to flee again.

"A prison was broken into and some refugees (who had returned to Uganda) were blamed."

She left for Kenya again.

But Kakai said that even in Kenya she was not safe.

"The Ugandan government had people in Kenya to arrest those who had returned to exile."

She decided to come to South Africa, and took several buses and hitch-hiked for days before arriving in Cape Town.

Kakai initially hoped to teach again, but could not find a teaching job in Cape Town.

"A friend from back home was studying at UWC and encouraged me to apply. It had always been a dream of mine to obtain a university degree so I decided to do it."

She used the money she had to secure a place in a residence, and to pay part of her fees for her first-year BA studies.

But by her second year of study, she had no money left.

"It was a very hard time for me. I survived because of my friends and the assistance of (an) Islamic organisation, Sanzaf (South African National Zakah Fund). Financial aid was not available to students who were refugees."

UWC rector and vice-chancellor Professor Brian O'Connell found Kakai crying on campus one day.

"I told him my whole story and I think he must have been touched. He referred me to an organisation that covered my fees for that year."

Kakai also joined UWC's work-study programme.

She worked at the university library and the money she earned contributed towards her tuition fees.

She graduated in 2008.

"I was very happy. I wouldn't have been able to do it without the assistance of Professor O'Connell, the International Relations Office and other people at UWC."

Despite the struggle to obtain her degree, she continued her studies that same year.

Last Monday she graduated with an honours degree in development studies.

O'Connell said he was very proud when Kakai graduated.

"She has shown what is possible in the most desperate of circumstances if one is willing to take charge of one's life."

Kakai and a number of other students recently started an NGO called Unity for Tertiary Refugee Students (UTRS).

"Funding for refugees who want to study at higher education institutions is an issue that needs attention.

"UTRS tries to help these students obtain funding from organisations. We also negotiate with the management of institutions to allow refugee students to pay their fees in instalments."

Kakai is currently studying towards a Masters degree in Integrated Water Resource Management.