Renowned scholar and political analyst Jim Spire Ssentongo has opened up about a lesser-known chapter of his early life, revealing how repeated visa rejections altered the course of his journey and ultimately shaped his success.
In a reflective statement, Ssentongo recounted his struggles shortly after completing his undergraduate studies, when he sought opportunities abroad in pursuit of better prospects.
Like many young graduates in East Africa, he attempted to travel to the United Kingdom for informal work, commonly referred to as “kyeeyo.”
However, his plans were halted after his visa applications were rejected twice.
“At that time, the process itself was daunting,” he recalled. “You had to line up at the UK visa office as early as 3:00am, waiting to be attended to from 9:00am. By then, the queue would stretch close to a kilometre, all for a chance to go and do unskilled work.”
Ssentongo used the experience to highlight a broader issue affecting many young people — the tendency to compare their journeys with the perceived success of role models, often without understanding the struggles behind those achievements.
He noted that such comparisons can lead to frustration and loss of hope when success does not come quickly.
“Sometimes young people lose hope because they’ve only seen the rosy side of those they admire,” he said. “They imagine it was a straight path, and when theirs isn’t, they get discouraged.”
Despite the setbacks, Ssentongo now views the visa denials as a turning point rather than a failure.
“Looking back, I’m happy that they denied me the visas,” he stated, suggesting that staying back allowed him to pursue a more meaningful and impactful career path.
His remarks come at a time when youth unemployment and migration pressures remain key concerns across the region.