HeroPress: Indebted: The Ugandan WordPress Dream that Flew to Asia – Ebbanja: Ekirooto kya Uganda ekyagenda e Buyindi
Emboozi eno weeri ne mu Luganda. There are moments in life when you sit back, look around, and just shake your head in disbelief. The kind where you ask yourself, “Eh! Is this really me?” This is one of those moments. The word indebted is typically associated with money—a debt to be repaid. But there is a different kind of indebtedness—one that defines my life now: feeling grateful or obligated because of a benefit, help, or kindness received. It’s the feeling I have today for the global WordPress community. This isn’t a financial report; it’s a profound acknowledgment that my life, my sense of community, and my geographical freedom were purchased not with cash, but with kindness. I write this essay to the dreamers in my home country of Uganda. To the beginner still figuring out what “plugin” means. To the developer grinding through tutorials at midnight. To anyone who believes that global stages are “for other people”. They are not. This is our story, and it is built on the backbone of WordPress.From Doubting Thomas to WordPress Events Supporter For a long time, my relationship with WordPress was purely transactional. It was a tool, a way to build a website, a path toward earning a living. The community aspect was a side benefit, a place for troubleshooting, like the endless “try clearing cache” conversations. Because of this many people have gone around with the WordPress is dead jokes which is not the actual reality But WordPress is not just about websites; it is about people. Real people who show up, who share, who guide, and who open doors you didn’t even know existed. Like I have explained before, I was not always the full of faith kind of guy. I always had doubts and so many reservations. I started using WordPress because a friend of mine invited me to. Just to test and see how things work. Nothing serious. When I started using WordPress, life started changing and now I have hit another milestone. WordPress keeps pulling me and locking me in. The Software, the Community, the family (in Uganda we call it a family because of how fast we come through for each other). After a few series of attending meetups and WordCamps a friend asked me to speak at a WordCamp and my life took another turn. It was so beautiful to contribute to communities. I started sharing in meetup and WordCamps, both locally and internationally but I had never thought about organizing a flagship event. WordPress transformed my way of seeing people and my approach to community also took a turn for the better. I met people that appreciated all efforts regardless of how small. This journey from self-doubt to mentoring WordCamps was a slow-burn realization of the power of community. The small efforts, the meetups, the training sessions, and all the nitty-gritties actually mattered. The WordPress community brought me so far, allowing me to celebrate the path I was on.The Dream that Flew to Mumbai The dream of organizing a flagship event had always been tucked away in my heart. When I saw the call for Organizers for a Flagship event, I noticed a chance to fit all this community work into a larger purpose. I knew it would take a lot of effort and the cross would be heavy, but I didn’t care; I wanted to carry it. I also didn’t think they would choose me because I had been turned down before by another flagship. I was ready for whatever the response but I was also ready to put in the hours and work required. The challenge was immediate and geographical. The event was WordCamp Asia 2026, happening in Mumbai, India. The idea of my passport getting that Indian immigration stamp felt like a fantasy. My confidence was limited to what I thought was possible: “Apply and you will be a remote organiser”. During the organizer vetting and orientation process, the interviewer kept returning to one question: Could I make it to Mumbai? In my heart of hearts, I knew the answer. I kept firmly responding that I could not afford that much, but I would offer all the required remote support. I was already offering my time and effort; I just couldn’t solve the geographic puzzle and yet I really wanted to be a part of the team. Then, during one of the calls, I received a link to apply for the Open Horizons Scholarship from Automattic. The moment I read the mission statement, everything clicked. It aims to increase equitable access to WordPress events by providing financial support to contributors from underrepresented, underserved, or economically disadvantaged backgrounds. This was written for me. This was written for us. With all faith and hope, I filled in the application and waited. I was praying that they would choose me, praying that this new dream could become a reality.The Game Changer: Geographical Freedom A few days later, I received the email confirming my selection. Even now, it still feels like one of those emails you reread five times to confirm it’s not a scam. You know those ones that start with “Congratulations” and you check the sender twice before your heart accepts the joy? Yes, that one. I was in shock. I was excited. I was amazed. This scholarship was not just about me boarding a plane to Mumbai; it was a physical manifestation of geographical freedom. It was a reminder that somewhere, someone saw value in what I do. My life changed, the way I walk changed, the way I speak changed, the way I see things changed and everything changed. The scholarship made me international. I ceased to be local events organizer to Flagship event Organizer Travelling to attend a flagship event is a very interesting thought but for me, it started with a passport that had more hope than stamps. Then came the india visa process. Let me be honest, it was not smooth. Not even close. I faced rejection.
