Scholar and activist Stella Nyanzi has reflected on the dramatic twists in her life, describing a journey that has taken her from academia to poetry, political activism, imprisonment and exile.
In a statement reflecting on her personal journey, Nyanzi said she had reached a stage in life where she was being forced to rebuild her future repeatedly, despite having once been on an academic path toward becoming a professor.
“In the evening of my life, I am still restarting all over again,” she said.
Nyanzi recalled how her ambitions changed as she became increasingly involved in activism and political expression. She said that instead of completing the journey to becoming a professor, she found herself becoming a poet, protester and prisoner.
Her activism in Uganda has previously brought her into conflict with authorities, while her outspoken criticism of the government and political establishment has made her a prominent figure in the country’s opposition and human rights debates.
Nyanzi also recalled her attempt to enter electoral politics, saying she later “raced to be a parliamentarian.” However, the political bid did not succeed, prompting another major change in her life.
“When I failed, I fled far to freedom,” she said.
The activist described her experience in exile as another period of starting from scratch. Away from Uganda, she said she became “a newbie, an exile, and an asylum seeker,” highlighting the uncertainty that accompanied her departure from the country.
Her latest reflection presents exile not as the end of her journey but as another chapter in a life marked by repeated reinvention.
“Today, I am a Ugandan refugee restarting all over again and again and again,” Nyanzi said.
Her remarks offer a glimpse into the personal cost of a life shaped by academic ambitions, political activism and opposition to state power. They also underscore the difficult transition faced by activists who leave their countries after years of public engagement.
For Nyanzi, the journey remains unfinished. Despite the setbacks, imprisonment, failed political ambitions and displacement, she portrays herself as continuing to rebuild her life while holding on to her identity as a Ugandan.