The Door

Good evening, everyone. Thank you for joining our event today. I was born and raised in Kawempe, Kampala, Uganda. Three and a half years ago, I made the difficult choice to leave my country due to frustration, anger, and fear. Leaving my home, family, and young wife was not easy, but necessary for my safety. Although Uganda is a very beautiful country with good weather, it faces issues with poor governance and mismanagement of resources.

In Europe and other Western countries, Africa is often depicted negatively in the media, which surprises us when we arrive here. Uganda or Africa at large faces challenges, but rich in resources and potential. Proper management of these resources could lead to prosperity, yet many people still struggle despite living on fertile land filled with gold and oil and other resources. In Europe, wealth is visible through development and stability. Our country’s main issue is not the lack of wealth, but rather how it has been managed and who benefits from it.

Today, I chose a door image to symbolize my migration journey. Its simplicity and familiarity capture the essence of daily challenges and opportunities. Many view doors as the people, ideas, or experiences that have opened paths to success.
A door is one of the simplest objects we encounter, yet it carries a quiet complexity that often goes unnoticed, serving not only as a physical barrier that separates spaces inside from outside, private from public. but also as an invitation to move between them; when closed, it offers protection, control, and a sense of security, shielding us from noise, weather, or intrusion, while symbolically marking boundaries or endings, yet when opened, it transforms into a passage that enables transition, choice, and possibility, requiring only a small action to reveal what lies beyond, whether familiar or unknown; doors also hold emotional significance, tied to moments of anticipation, hesitation, relief, or memory, such as the entrance to a childhood home or a room where life-changing news was shared, and in literature and art they often symbolize opportunity, change, or missed chances, reflecting how deeply embedded they are in human experience; though we pass through them daily without much thought, their absence would leave our lives exposed and unstructured, making the door not just an object, but a quiet yet powerful symbol of boundaries, movement, and the constant decisions that shape our lives.

My life began in a unique manner that required early adaptation. At the age of three, I lost my mother. a loss I could not fully grasp, a loss I couldn’t understand, an absence I felt but couldn’t comprehend. Or understanding what circumstances were awaiting for me without her. Soon after, my father experienced significant financial setbacks, losing his wealth and assets. With limited support growing up, I assumed responsibilities early on to fund my education and daily needs. As a young adult, I acquired diverse skills that enabled me to find manual work, which proved invaluable. However, balancing employment and studies became increasingly challenging, particularly when the assistance I had received from my elder brother ceased due to his expanded responsibilities. Consequently, I made the decision to temporarily suspend my studies in order to develop my financial capacity and eventually resume my education. Approaching challenges with determination, I ventured into various business pursuits. If one endeavor was unsuccessful, I moved on to another, persistently seeking opportunities. The onset of COVID-19 closed many doors, leaving me in a difficult situation without skills for remote work. During this time, I began learning graphic design and ultimately became a graphic designer and entrepreneur. Business has always been my passion, and my goal is to create opportunities for as many as 10,000 individuals over an extended period. In Kampala, Uganda, new enterprises can thrive initially, but long-term sustainability remains difficult due to challenges such as inadequate governance and poor government structures.

Growing up, I witnessed widespread corruption, brutality, killings, intimidation, illegal abductions and arrests, land grabbing including my father’s and mine, and other abuses committed by the government and its associates. I don’t support the government. Things turned bad for me in the year 2022, the situation that forced me to flee the country. Even though earlier on I had already experienced intimidation and violence from the police and those who connected to the government. This time i had went to Turkey to bring back some merchandise, particularly men’s garments. Our merchandise was confiscated by the authorities and asked us to pay taxes which was more than the goods expenses, we left the goods with them and also our work place got some issues we couldn’t work freely there. The situation for me became very intense, it felt like I was in the room being locked inside with no keys or passcode to open it. So I decided to use the small door [ window] which was on the room to free myself and find freedom somewhere else. As we have learnt that we have right to freedom of movement in and out of the country among the many other rights. That is why I ended up in the NETHERLANDS. I had applied for visa in two countries; NETHERLANDS and CANADA. I got the dutch visa first and I traveled and the canadian visa came later when I was already here.

On the day I fled my country, I was advised to travel at night. I had prepared everything carefully. Upon arriving at the airport and approaching migration to check in, I discovered my ticket was not in the system. The agency I had paid to purchase the ticket for me had canceled it without my knowledge. I was forced to buy a new ticket immediately. I spent nearly 22 hours at the airport before finally managing to depart. Upon arrival in the Netherlands, I began by registering myself with the government systems at the IND in Ter Apel. With no family or friends here, every challenge and difficulty had to be faced alone. For four days, I slept outside at the gate of the IND in Red Cross tents, enduring the cold, waiting each day in bad weather for someone to call my number so I could enter. Food was another struggle—usually just four slices of frozen bread with cheese and an orange. We would try to warm them in the sun if it appeared, or put them in a bag and wait a couple of hours before they became edible. I was outside with no comfort, but I persisted through the process; now, here I am, still moving forward.

Starting life on foreign soil was a tremendous challenge for me. As I mentioned, I had no one to turn to for help or advice, no family, no friends, no acquaintances in this country. The journey to begin again in a foreign land was daunting. Now that the door had been opened for my entry, I found myself facing new challenges: the ‘doors’ of employment, education, and transportation. Fortunately, during my first year in the Netherlands, I met some friends who helped me get started. Unfortunately, they all left the country within a few months. One friend I met online, noticing she also lived here, offered help whenever she could; she now lives in the USA with her husband. Another friend I met at the mosque while praying side by side, we realized our manner was similar, and he greeted me; we became friends, but he eventually left the country due to personal issues. There are many others who have helped or continue to help me in various ways; I do not take their support for granted and am deeply grateful. Through their kindness, I was able to open doors of opportunity that once seemed impossible. I am grateful to God for constantly guiding and blessing me, as well as giving me the strength to face and overcome every challenge.

I extend my sincere appreciation to the Foundation Academy of Amsterdam for its invaluable contributions. The knowledge you have imparted to us is highly valued. Although it may appear that not all lessons have been immediately assimilated, do not overlook our potential. Your guidance has inspired us with concepts that will influence our future paths and benefit those within our communities. 

Thank you.