Shakillah was born and raised in Rubirizi District, near Kyambura Gorge Lodge in Western Uganda. She joined Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust in 2022 as a trainee in the Kyambura Youth Training Program before joining Volcanoes Safaris as a naturalist and birder at Mount Gahinga Lodge.
Shakillah can now identify more than 300 bird species and her favorite birds are Rwenzori Turaco and Golden breasted bunting.