A 25-year-old student of Makerere University says he’s watched helplessly as his dream of becoming a journalist evaporated.

Hershim Kaggwa, now pursuing a degree course in education, hasn’t given up as yet even after being frustrated and failing to get a job.

"I want to live a better life. I saw my dream die, I hated all media houses after being tossed up and down as I looked for a job,” Kaggwa says.

Born in 1994 in Kiteredde village, Kayunga District, Kaggwa went to Good Hope Primary School and scored 11 aggregate in his primary leaving examinations. He joined Namagabi Secondary School in Kayunga for both ordinary and advanced levels.

Against advice from his parents who wanted him to become a teacher, Kaggwa chose to follow his passion. As a young and ambitious youth, he was so obsessed about radio and always wanted to be famous. "My father urged me to do a course in education since I couldn't make it for Law, but I refused and opted for Journalism," he says.

He joined YMCA Institute, Wandegeya, where he attained a certificate in Journalism, Radio, Television and Film Production. Armed with his certificate, Kaggwa hit the road to look for a job. He thought he would be hired instantly because of the good grades he had acquired, but this was not to be.

What he calls the most hurting experience was moving to a radio station to seek employment but he was denied an opportunity, only for the same station to steal his programme idea. He says he shared a proposal but was told it was below the mark. "I was shocked to hear my programme proposal hitting the air. I got devastated," Kaggwa notes.

He moved to another media house but got another shock as he narrates. “I was promised a job on television only after paying 800,000 Ugandan shillings and that I would be working on probation for three months without either food or transport facilitation. In addition, I was asked to look for a personal sponsor to advertise in my program,” he recalls.

Kaggwa resorted to selling clothes in St Balikuddembe Market to earn a living but this was not an ideal place he wished to be. “I made up my mind to join Makerere University. And my parents encouraged me to go back to school. I recollected myself to study a Bachelor of Arts in Education and here I have discovered a new passion for what I am studying and that of my future career," he says.