Opinion: Experience worth sharing

By Adhieu Achuil Dhieu

I arrived at Entebbe Airport in Kampala around 5 AM, having just bought some dokua. As I checked in, I was informed that unless the dokua was wrapped in plastic, it couldn’t be checked in. Unfortunately, I didn’t have any Ugandan shillings with me. I approached the people doing the wrapping service and asked if I could pay with a card or Mpesa, but they only accepted cash. My head started spinning—no cash, especially no Ugandan shillings, and I didn’t know what to do.

I went back to the counter, hoping for a solution, but the staff said there was nothing they could do unless I had the wrapping done. They suggested leaving the dokua behind. I wasn’t ready to give up, so I turned around and noticed a South Sudanese man standing behind me. I could tell from his faceline that he was probably from Nuer so I felt some relief, thinking he might help me. I greeted him in Nuer, and when he responded, I asked if he could lend me 30,000 Ugandan shillings—about 1,000 Kenyan shillings.

To my surprise, he asked which part of Nuer I was from. I apologized and switched to English, explaining that I was Dinka. His mood shifted instantly, and he told me he couldn’t help. I thanked him anyway and turned to my bag, where I had a $100 bill—the smallest denomination I had.

As I was considering exchanging the $100, a Ugandan man who had been watching the situation approached me. He asked if everything was okay, so I explained my dilemma. He asked if I was really going to exchange $100 just for 30,000 Ugandan shillings and suggested I might only need $50. I agreed, but he then offered to give me the 30,000 shillings, pointing out that I wouldn’t have much use for the rest of the money. I was incredibly grateful and asked how I could repay him. He told me he worked for UNHCR and had seen the good work I’ve been doing for refugees. He said, “Please continue advocating for refugees—that would be my payment.” I was so touched, I nearly cried.

I got the dokua wrapped and proceeded to immigration. There, I saw the Nuer man who did not helped me being held by immigration officers because he had overstayed in Uganda and needed to pay a $100 fine. He was trying to reason with them, but they weren’t interested. I asked how much money he had left, and he told me just 150,000 Ugandan shillings. I smiled, took out the $100, and paid the fine for him. The officers let him go, and as he thanked me, calling me “sister,” I responded, “No, I’m not your sister—just a human being helping another human being.” And then I left.