Adversity shapes final stretch to PhD

Of his journey towards obtaining his Doctor of Philosophy qualification, University of Cape Town (UCT) PhD graduate Dr Kevin Musungu said, “Perseverance, intellectual curiosity, the unwavering support of my village – family, friends, colleagues, and supervisors – and steadfast faith in God sustained me.”

His story begins in Uganda and is filled with highs and lows. “I was raised in both Kenya and Uganda. I am a husband of one and father of three. I came to South Africa to study a BSc in Geomatics, [and] I subsequently did an MSc in Engineering in Geomatics. Most recently [I] completed [my] Doctor of Philosophy with a focus on species delineation of fynbos wetlands using photography taken from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) and artificial intelligence (AI),” Kevin said.

“Personal trials have shaped my perspective, resilience, and growth. I grew up in the 1990s in a post-war society ravaged by HIV, losing many loved ones, and where resources were often scarce. I learnt that it was imperative to take chances as they come because life was fragile, and resources were never guaranteed. My PhD journey was also fraught with difficulties, the most significant being multiple changes in supervision and the fact that my study area burned down during my research in 2021 – just as fynbos plants tend to do. I also suffered from Bell’s Palsy for about six months, had surgery for an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) condition, necessitating three further months of recovery during my PhD. Loadshedding didn’t help either.

“Just as a tree forms concentric rings with each passing season – some thick with abundance, others thin from hardship – each trial in life leaves its mark, adding strength and depth to who we become.”

“I believe struggles refine character. Just as a tree forms concentric rings with each passing season – some thick with abundance, others thin from hardship – each trial in life leaves its mark, adding strength and depth to who we become.”

The rollercoaster culminated in Kevin being handed his degree during UCT’s graduation ceremony on 1 April. “Every challenge has been a lesson, whether in academics, career, or personal life. The challenges were numerous, from securing permissions to access study areas and obtaining drones to navigating supervisor changes and even losing my study area. Yet, no matter the obstacle, support was always within reach as long as I kept moving forward and trusted that God would bring the right people into my life at the right time.”

Demystify the PhD journey

Kevin is currently a lecturer in the Civil Engineering and Geomatics Department at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT), a practising professional land surveyor, and a Geographic Information Science (GISc) and remote sensing consultant. His PhD focuses on the use of high-resolution UAV aerial photographs for semi-automatic detection of fynbos wetland plant species in the Steenbras Nature Reserve. UAVs, he said, are preferable because the inundated nature of wetlands makes fieldwork difficult.

“I dedicate this PhD to my children. It marks a watershed moment for our family. Many nights I kissed them goodnight, only for them to find me still at my desk when they woke up to prepare for school. I wanted to demystify the PhD journey for them and show that they can achieve their dreams with hard work, perseverance, and determination.”