My Journey as a Software Engineer

I started coding during the second wave of COVID-19. Schools were closed. I was home with nothing to do. At university we had just begun Visual Basic programming, but not in depth. I decided to dig in. That decision changed everything.

I spent hours online, learning the basics, then building small projects. The first time my code ran without errors, I was hooked. That feeling never really left. Five years later, I am still learning. The field changes fast. New frameworks, new tools, new ways of thinking. You adapt or you fall behind.

In the beginning I had no idea what I was doing. I copied tutorials. I broke things. I fixed them. Slowly I started to understand how programs fit together. That phase is messy for everyone. Do not skip it. The struggle is where you learn.

I moved from Visual Basic to Laravel, React, Flutter, Django. I built web apps, mobile apps, and AI integrations. I worked with APIs and cloud systems. Each technology opened new doors. I joined foreign companies: Polaric Cloud AI, Darajapan, GNA Software Company. I worked on projects that reached users across the world. I learned how teams abroad operate. I learned what it takes to deliver at that level.

I won in UCC competitions. That win meant more than a trophy. It was proof that someone who started with nothing, in a lockdown, could compete and win. If you are reading this and you feel behind, remember: I was there once too.

I went on to start Apex Global Technologies, Apex Dev Hub, and Apex Electronics Shop. I became a lecturer at Makerere University Business School. I teach the next generation. I give back what was given to me. The kid who was bored at home during COVID is now building companies and teaching at a university. That could be you in five years.

Bugs and tight deadlines are part of the job. So are moments when you feel like you do not belong. But every problem you solve makes you better. Every project that fails teaches you what to avoid next time. The people who succeed in this field are not the smartest. They are the ones who keep showing up.

COVID gave me something I might not have found otherwise: time. Time to experiment. Time to fail. Time to learn without the pressure of exams. If you are in a similar place, use it. Pick one language. Build one small thing. Then another. One hour a day adds up. One project leads to the next.

Today I help others start their own journey through Apex Global Technologies. If you are willing to put in the work, the opportunities are there. The industry needs more builders. It needs people who started with nothing and learned step by step. That could be you. Your story can start today.