There’s only one way to win the visa war
Jul 01, 2009
EDITOR—The New Vision does not re-run articles, otherwise I would ask them to re-run Mr John Nagenda’s, “The wonder of British visas†published on June 29.
EDITOR—The New Vision does not re-run articles, otherwise I would ask them to re-run Mr John Nagenda’s, “The wonder of British visas†published on June 29.
Nagenda’s son has been refused a visa to visit the UK, but at least Nagenda has the language and space to express the arbitrariness of the visa regime when applying from developing countries (especially Africa) to travel to the West.
I can affirm that Nagenda is articulating a mood and predicament of thousands of Africans who are denied visas even if they have not committed any crime.
The visa is a straightforward thing for most people, especially Bazungu wishing to travel to Uganda and the rest of Africa. But for many Ugandans wishing to travel to Britain as tourists or visitors, it is often a nightmare.
It is the occasion when many of us are told that we do not really matter in this world.
Even those like me who have no immigration restriction to Britain, I feel when my fellow Ugandans are subjected to the visa hurdles that my being is diminished. And if I should presume to inform the well-informed Nagenda, I should tell him that things are going to get even worse for Ugandans wanting to travel to the West.
There is one way we can win the visa war, if we are not Chinese—that is. We would have to exercise tit-for-tat, like when Britain said Ugandans visiting UK will be tested for HIV and President Museveni said the British would also be tested.
They (the British government) relented. Another piece of advice to Ugandans is, look, the world does not love you. It is about time you started loving one another.
Rev Amos Kasibante
United Kingdom
Nagenda’s son has been refused a visa to visit the UK, but at least Nagenda has the language and space to express the arbitrariness of the visa regime when applying from developing countries (especially Africa) to travel to the West.
I can affirm that Nagenda is articulating a mood and predicament of thousands of Africans who are denied visas even if they have not committed any crime.
The visa is a straightforward thing for most people, especially Bazungu wishing to travel to Uganda and the rest of Africa. But for many Ugandans wishing to travel to Britain as tourists or visitors, it is often a nightmare.
It is the occasion when many of us are told that we do not really matter in this world.
Even those like me who have no immigration restriction to Britain, I feel when my fellow Ugandans are subjected to the visa hurdles that my being is diminished. And if I should presume to inform the well-informed Nagenda, I should tell him that things are going to get even worse for Ugandans wanting to travel to the West.
There is one way we can win the visa war, if we are not Chinese—that is. We would have to exercise tit-for-tat, like when Britain said Ugandans visiting UK will be tested for HIV and President Museveni said the British would also be tested.
They (the British government) relented. Another piece of advice to Ugandans is, look, the world does not love you. It is about time you started loving one another.
Rev Amos Kasibante
United Kingdom