Sheilah Gashumba is barely seventeen but has been in front of the cameras since her childhood. She is  smart, absolutely confident and has all the right answers, leaving you with a glimpse of a youngster who inspires people of all ages.

The 11th year student of Kabojja International School in Uganda, Sheilah took her first role as a news anchor of kids’ news on WBS TV at the age of 10. On becoming a teenager, she was promoted to the teens show called, Teens Club, a leading Youth show in Uganda.

She is a young multitalented girl, who has been in front of the camera since her childhood. Born on February 7, 1996, Sheila grew up as an only child and was raised solely by her hardworking father, Frank Gashumba.

In 2007, Sheila earned recognition as the youngest journalist accredited in the whole world to cover the Common wealth Heads of Government meeting, which was presided over by the Queen of England, Queen Elizabeth in Kampala, Uganda.

This extraordinary teenager is unstoppable. By the age of 12, she had written proposals for a TV show, Radio show and clothing line, among several other creative and mind blowing ideas. 

Sheila bounced back on the TV screen with a show called T-Nation which airs every Saturday morning at 11am on Uganda’s NTV. The show will be soon aired on RTV.

In 2012, she started Young Bodies Big Hearts, a charity foundation that promotes  giving back to society and helping the less privileged with the little that they have to make the world a better place to live. 

Gashumba won the Super Talent Awards 2012, and recently won Hottest Teens TV presenter at the Annual Buzz Awards held this year in Kampala. She is currently negotiating a deal to extend her TV show to Rwanda. The New Times had an interview with the TV host. 

Excerpts:

Q. What is the name of your TV show?

A. T-Nation

Q. Tell us more about this programme and why did you choose to bring it to Rwanda?

A. T-Nation is a TV Magazine Show for teenagers that feature their tastes in music, fashion, movies, games, etc. The show also provides a platform for the teenagers to express themselves by discussing issues they face on a day to day basis, be it at school, with their peers and even parents.

Q. Of what impact will it have to the youth in Rwanda?

A. The show has a lot to learn from ranging from advice through the teen talks on the show, tips on fashion and style, empowering the viewers by showing talented youth because the show is a fully packaged show.

Q. Do you have plans of shifting and working in Rwanda?

A. Yes, I have plans of working in Rwanda. My TV show is soon going to be syndicated across East Africa, Rwanda inclusive.

I’ve been to Rwanda several times and Rwanda is my second home, actually my great grandparents migrated from Ruhengeri to Uganda in 1923.

Q. You are very young, talented and successful– what’s the secret to your success?

A. I believe in the power of the mind and  believe that anything can come true if you put your mind to it. So I make sure I am positive throughout the year and I am never afraid to learn from the best. I also have a very supportive father, Frank Gashumba, who inspires me. He has taught me to learn more, give more, and love more and definitely with the grace of God, everything is possible and, like they say, he  who God blesses, no man can curse

Q. What advice can you give the youth out there who want to follow in your footsteps?

A. It doesn’t matter what country or city you were born. You still have the ability to have a great mind. Great minds exist all over the planet, in the ghetto, trailer parks, and villages. Pay no attention to the environment, pay attention to your discipline and create powerful habits. 

To all the young girls out there, there is more to life that you haven’t seen yet, so don’t ruin your life because of the choices you make when you are excited. Just hang in there, you are beautiful and I am sure you don’t want to lose that. 

Q. How do you see your future and where do you want to be?

A. I see a future where I will live to change the lives of people in Africa and the World.