Former Miss Tourism Uganda, Phiona Kyeru, has shared a candid reflection on the challenges faced by Ugandans returning home after living abroad, highlighting the emotional and practical struggles that can make “homecoming” unexpectedly difficult.
In a heartfelt post on X, Kyeru recounted the story of a close friend who recently returned to Uganda from the UK, only to board a quiet evening flight back to London. “No airport photos. No farewell party…just quietly, like she was never really here,” Kyeri wrote.
Her account paints a vivid picture of the realities many returnees face. While London had been isolating and expensive, Uganda presented a different set of trials.
Power outages could last for days, traffic on major roads like Entebbe Road consumed entire mornings, and even basic safety was precarious, as her friend experienced when a boda-boda accident led to exploitation rather than assistance.
“The police looked at her and saw an opportunity, not a victim,” Kyeri explained, noting that almost every interaction seemed transactional.
Attempts to start small businesses or secure jobs in Kampala were met with exploitation or underpaid work that ignored international experience.
Family pressures compounded these challenges.
Friends and relatives who had celebrated her return began to question her choices when financial support fell short, asking, “So UK didn’t work out?” or “You came back for this?”
Kyeri observed that this paradox—being surrounded by people yet feeling more alone than abroad—was a common struggle for returnees.
Kyeru clarified that her reflections are not a critique of Uganda but an honest portrayal of what returning home can entail.
“Most of us who leave don’t stop loving home. We just get honest about what home is asking us to carry,” she said.
Her narrative underscores a broader conversation about migration, belonging, and the often-unseen burdens that accompany repatriation.
For many Ugandans, leaving is not merely a quest for opportunity, but returning is also far from simple.
The story serves as a reminder that decisions to leave or return are deeply personal, layered, and rarely straightforward.
As Kyeri concludes, the grass may not always be greener abroad, but the struggle at home often comes with its own, unexpected complexities—requiring courage, patience, and understanding from both those who leave and those who remain.