"The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members."   - Coretta Scott King

Dear community members & well-wishers,

We need your help urgently!

Our friend and community leader, Shafic Ssenyonga, 24, (born in July 1999) is facing deportation from Canada back to Uganda on (Good) Friday, March 29, 2024. We can't let this happen!

 

 

 

 

Shafic Ssenyonga (He/Him) isn't just an ordinary guy. He's been a rock in our community, coaching soccer for our kids and teens, and even driving trucks to keep things moving. But now, he's in danger of being sent back to Uganda, a place where he could face discrimination and violence just for being a sexual minority.

Shafic’s refugee claim was denied because of doubts about his story, but we know the truth. He had to flee Uganda because of threats to his safety due to his sexual orientation. Sending him back there would be a grave injustice.

Shafic has given so much to our community in Toronto including volunteering at the 519 Church Street Community Centre, and in Ottawa for the Newcomer Youth Ottawa, Uganda Cranes Ottawa, St. Elizabeth Visitation Parish among others. He's not just a soccer coach; he's a friend, a mentor, and a tireless advocate for our neighborhoods. 

He's even won awards for his coaching skills including the 2023 Coach of the Tournament for Uganda Canadian MultiCity Soccer Cup in the summer. The Uganda Cranes Multi-city Cup involved Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal.

 

 

 

Summer 2023 Ottawa, ON: Shafic Ssenyonga (white shirt) receives Coach of the tournament from Hon. Robert S. Kyagulanyi (black shirt) aka Bobi Wine, Leader of National Unity Platform and 2021 former Presidential Candidate for Uganda. Looking on NUP leaders Joel Ssenyonyi, Brenda Nakato (2nd right) and David Lewis Rubongoya (right)

 A must see clip of Shafic having drills with one of the future superstars.

Despite facing hardships, Shafic has always stayed strong and kept pushing forward. He's worked hard, paid his taxes, and been an upstanding citizen since he arrived in Canada in November 2018.

We, the undersigned, hereby petition the Government of Canada through the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to halt the deportation of Mr. Shafic Ssenyonga.

We urge the Government of Canada to recognize Mr. Shafic Ssenyonga's immense value to our communities and to grant him permanent residence on compassionate and humanitarian grounds. Deporting him would not only be unjust but would also deprive our communities of a remarkable individual who has enriched our lives in countless ways.

Let us stand together in solidarity with Shafic and demand that he be allowed to remain in Canada, where he belongs, as a cherished member of our community. Shafic deserves to benefit from our humanitarian and compassionate way of living as this ordeal has taken a mental and emotional strain on him as well as financial constraints.

Please sign the petition and contribute whatever you can towards Shafic's legal costs. Every little bit helps!

[Redacted]

For more information, visit www.newafricancanadians.com

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." - Edmund Burke

In solidarity,

Team Shafic Ssenyonga