After getting accepted into university, students must find a place to stay. Whether it’s a hall of residence or a hostel, each option comes with potential challenges, particularly in the form of roommates. Roommates can either provide memorable experiences or dreadful ones. Some can be incredibly difficult to live with, whether due to being overly neat, excessively noisy, or having other problematic behaviors.
Irene Mutoni, a recent graduate from Makerere University, shares her difficult experience:
Robbed and Evicted
In 2022, Irene Mutoni faced significant challenges that affected her mental health. She was living in a rented room in Makerere Kikoni, near the university. Irene suffers from endometriosis, a painful condition that makes life very difficult and expensive. To ease the financial burden on her parents, Irene decided to move out of a hostel and into a rented room with a friend, who will remain unnamed.
Initially, everything seemed fine. However, one day, her roommate woke up early to do laundry and left the door open. Thieves took advantage of this and stole their phones, laptops, and Irene’s small bag containing money for her medical bills. The theft occurred while Irene was sleeping deeply, and she didn’t hear anything. Her roommate was also her coursemate.
After the robbery, her roommate went to their class WhatsApp group to ask for donations without revealing Irene’s identity. When classmates inquired who the donations were for, the roommate responded harshly, criticizing their upbringing and parents. This behavior was typical of her, and the class was somewhat accustomed to it.
The next day, when Irene attended lectures, her friends played the WhatsApp audio messages for her since she no longer had a phone. She apologized to the class for any confusion, not realizing that this would upset her roommate. Her roommate accused her of not being supportive and, that night, evicted Irene from the room. Despite having paid three months’ rent upfront, her roommate claimed she would use that money to buy new padlocks, accusing Irene of conspiring with the thieves.
Amid the chaos, Irene remained silent as her roommate shouted at her, attracting a crowd. Kind students offered her a place to stay since she had no money left. During that semester, Irene dealt with heartbreak, robbery, homelessness, and the ongoing battle with endometriosis. Fortunately, the roommate who took her in became a great friend.
Advice for Freshers
Irene advises new students to choose their roommates carefully. It’s important to take your time and be on your best behavior when living with different personalities. Dickson Tumuramye, a parenting counselor, suggests that students should communicate their concerns politely if a roommate’s actions are bothersome. This can help in understanding each other’s perspectives and finding a compromise.
