Trials and travels of a Nkubakyeyo
Mar 07, 2008
Contrary to expectations, good news about Uganda is not good news for a nkubakyeyo (odd job worker) abroad. Jerome Katongole, a rejected asylum seeker, begs to be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom. Day after day the immigration judges listen carefully to his tall tales at Eaton House in South We
By Titus Kakembo
Contrary to expectations, good news about Uganda is not good news for a nkubakyeyo (odd job worker) abroad. Jerome Katongole, a rejected asylum seeker, begs to be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom. Day after day the immigration judges listen carefully to his tall tales at Eaton House in South West London.
“If I go back home I will be persecuted,†says Katongole. “I will face inhumane treatment in the safe houses, may be death.â€
The judge furrows his brow, “Death?†he doubts the asylum seeker’s claim. “I will be killed,†Katongole speaks through an interpreter. A Makerere University graduate claims to speak no English. Especially now that the Home Office wants proof of his political persecution while in Uganda. He has no record of political activity. The judges counter his claims that he wants a better life; an understandably cool aspiration but not reason enough to be granted asylum in the little island (UK.)
This is proof that London is no longer a “soft touch†destination for Ugandans with great expectations abroad. Like many immigrants from Africa, Katongole spent a month in France on his way to the “Promised Land.†His talc is full of adventure. That he was locked up in a room by an anonymous agent who brought him to UK. But because of language barrier, he preferred Britain because he could ably communicate in English.
On top of that, he could get benefits, a solicitor and a barrister on the UK tax payer’s expense. His lawyer argues that having left Uganda eight years ago, if he goes back, he will be persecuted as a draft dodger or LRA rebellion sympathiser, which means he “could face inhuman treatmentâ€
It does not sound very persuasive, but the judge says he will give his decision in a week. Meanwhile Katongole is free to leave, which he does wearing a gambler’s smile. He will not be detained, if he loses his case, it is unlikely he will be deported. In the recent past, less than 50 percent of refused applicants were deported.
The point of contention being Lord Resistance Army (LRA) peace talks are on, the opposition and civic society are vibrantly keeping government on the edge of their seats through criticism, talk shows and mobilising demonstrations against unpopular government policies.
The proof required of an applicant is surprisingly “proof of reasonable degree of likeness†that the applicant flees persecution when he/she returns home. In a similar scenario a young girl Grace Apio could not explain her mysterious trip from Entebbe to Heathrow airport
Apio’s tale was that she was fleeing persecution on account of her sexual orientation. “My strong Catholic family will not hear the eldest daughter being a lesbian.†Armed with newspaper cuttings of stories that portray a negative image of the gay community, Apio is asked to substantiate her claims. She calls friends in the media comprising The New Vision, Etop, Rupiny and Bukedde to file a story in a related circumstance. But the strict editorial policy can not publish unsubstantiated stories.
“Bishop Senyonjo was defrocked by the Church of Uganda,†argues Apio. A couple of gay men who wed in Wandegeya were hunted by the community and President Museveni ordered their arrest. The judge said he would reach a decision next week. Apio did not wait. She went underground. Today she has a pseudo name after buying proof of identity papers (driving permit, National Insurance number and a letter from Home Office) from a Nigerian girl, Wumi Adekunle for sh3.5m. A judge in South West London said, the trends for this type of application are common. “But on the Internet we have seen stories of the gay community freely coming out in Uganda to voice their plight.â€
In North London another priest from Western Uganda is in no better situation. He went to UK fifteen years ago. He fell in love with an elderly Briton. Within two years they were married without her knowledge that he had left a wife and children in Fort Portal. The polygamous dog-collared priest has continued to sustain his families, across the ocean, without the knowledge of either woman. The sons are spitting images of their father, save for the different shades in colour. Unlike the trick played by the man of God, shum marriages are commonplace for sh6m.
However, unlike the man of God, Chirstine Nakintu thought she would use “thigh power†to facilitate her stay in Britain. She met one Chris Adebayo at a cleaning job in East London. He deceived her that he had permanent stay status in UK. This triggered her “love†into full blast. After six month Adekunle was arrested during an on spot check at Hatton Cross underground train station. Three weeks later he was deported. Today Nakintu singly has to foot the rent bill of 350 pounds for a bed sit every month.
Other than being victims of con artists, many Ugandans in UK are living in fear of deportation at any time. Raids by Home Office officials at places of work and tube bus stations are common as they disembark or board. Other than that whistle blowers of employers of illegal immigrants are handsomely rewarded when they give tips of where illegal immigrants reside or work. The fine for illegal immigrant employers has since doubled making getting a job very difficult. Working illegally in UK is estimated to be 20b pounds a year. Unscrupulous employers use illegal labour to pay low wages for long hours and poor working conditions. If nabbed, the consequences are costly to the employer and the employee.
However, refugees and asylum seekers in UK face a huge challenge on arrival, and for some years after, that often compounds the trauma of uprooting and flight. Policies towards asylum seekers and refugees make it more difficult for ‘forced migrants’ to successfully adapt to life in the UK, than is generally the case for voluntary or economic migrants. Asylum-seekers are not permitted to undertake paid employment in the UK while their applications are being assessed. The statistics show asylum seekers as unemployed migrants dependent on benefits - but clearly this is not out of choice. In addition, in order to take advantage of opportunities that exist in the marketplace, mobility is vital: in normal life, people move to where they can find suitable work, rather than waiting to see if work comes to them.
Contrary to expectations, good news about Uganda is not good news for a nkubakyeyo (odd job worker) abroad. Jerome Katongole, a rejected asylum seeker, begs to be allowed to stay in the United Kingdom. Day after day the immigration judges listen carefully to his tall tales at Eaton House in South West London.
“If I go back home I will be persecuted,†says Katongole. “I will face inhumane treatment in the safe houses, may be death.â€
The judge furrows his brow, “Death?†he doubts the asylum seeker’s claim. “I will be killed,†Katongole speaks through an interpreter. A Makerere University graduate claims to speak no English. Especially now that the Home Office wants proof of his political persecution while in Uganda. He has no record of political activity. The judges counter his claims that he wants a better life; an understandably cool aspiration but not reason enough to be granted asylum in the little island (UK.)
This is proof that London is no longer a “soft touch†destination for Ugandans with great expectations abroad. Like many immigrants from Africa, Katongole spent a month in France on his way to the “Promised Land.†His talc is full of adventure. That he was locked up in a room by an anonymous agent who brought him to UK. But because of language barrier, he preferred Britain because he could ably communicate in English.
On top of that, he could get benefits, a solicitor and a barrister on the UK tax payer’s expense. His lawyer argues that having left Uganda eight years ago, if he goes back, he will be persecuted as a draft dodger or LRA rebellion sympathiser, which means he “could face inhuman treatmentâ€
It does not sound very persuasive, but the judge says he will give his decision in a week. Meanwhile Katongole is free to leave, which he does wearing a gambler’s smile. He will not be detained, if he loses his case, it is unlikely he will be deported. In the recent past, less than 50 percent of refused applicants were deported.
The point of contention being Lord Resistance Army (LRA) peace talks are on, the opposition and civic society are vibrantly keeping government on the edge of their seats through criticism, talk shows and mobilising demonstrations against unpopular government policies.
The proof required of an applicant is surprisingly “proof of reasonable degree of likeness†that the applicant flees persecution when he/she returns home. In a similar scenario a young girl Grace Apio could not explain her mysterious trip from Entebbe to Heathrow airport
Apio’s tale was that she was fleeing persecution on account of her sexual orientation. “My strong Catholic family will not hear the eldest daughter being a lesbian.†Armed with newspaper cuttings of stories that portray a negative image of the gay community, Apio is asked to substantiate her claims. She calls friends in the media comprising The New Vision, Etop, Rupiny and Bukedde to file a story in a related circumstance. But the strict editorial policy can not publish unsubstantiated stories.
“Bishop Senyonjo was defrocked by the Church of Uganda,†argues Apio. A couple of gay men who wed in Wandegeya were hunted by the community and President Museveni ordered their arrest. The judge said he would reach a decision next week. Apio did not wait. She went underground. Today she has a pseudo name after buying proof of identity papers (driving permit, National Insurance number and a letter from Home Office) from a Nigerian girl, Wumi Adekunle for sh3.5m. A judge in South West London said, the trends for this type of application are common. “But on the Internet we have seen stories of the gay community freely coming out in Uganda to voice their plight.â€
In North London another priest from Western Uganda is in no better situation. He went to UK fifteen years ago. He fell in love with an elderly Briton. Within two years they were married without her knowledge that he had left a wife and children in Fort Portal. The polygamous dog-collared priest has continued to sustain his families, across the ocean, without the knowledge of either woman. The sons are spitting images of their father, save for the different shades in colour. Unlike the trick played by the man of God, shum marriages are commonplace for sh6m.
However, unlike the man of God, Chirstine Nakintu thought she would use “thigh power†to facilitate her stay in Britain. She met one Chris Adebayo at a cleaning job in East London. He deceived her that he had permanent stay status in UK. This triggered her “love†into full blast. After six month Adekunle was arrested during an on spot check at Hatton Cross underground train station. Three weeks later he was deported. Today Nakintu singly has to foot the rent bill of 350 pounds for a bed sit every month.
Other than being victims of con artists, many Ugandans in UK are living in fear of deportation at any time. Raids by Home Office officials at places of work and tube bus stations are common as they disembark or board. Other than that whistle blowers of employers of illegal immigrants are handsomely rewarded when they give tips of where illegal immigrants reside or work. The fine for illegal immigrant employers has since doubled making getting a job very difficult. Working illegally in UK is estimated to be 20b pounds a year. Unscrupulous employers use illegal labour to pay low wages for long hours and poor working conditions. If nabbed, the consequences are costly to the employer and the employee.
However, refugees and asylum seekers in UK face a huge challenge on arrival, and for some years after, that often compounds the trauma of uprooting and flight. Policies towards asylum seekers and refugees make it more difficult for ‘forced migrants’ to successfully adapt to life in the UK, than is generally the case for voluntary or economic migrants. Asylum-seekers are not permitted to undertake paid employment in the UK while their applications are being assessed. The statistics show asylum seekers as unemployed migrants dependent on benefits - but clearly this is not out of choice. In addition, in order to take advantage of opportunities that exist in the marketplace, mobility is vital: in normal life, people move to where they can find suitable work, rather than waiting to see if work comes to them.