Speaking on Next Radio's Morning Switch, the regional integration advocate, Group CEO of Afrika Mashariki Fest, Secretary General of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) Kiswahili Commission, and aspiring representative to the East African Legislative Assembly reflected on a journey defined by resilience, curiosity and unwavering commitment to Pan-African ideals.
His dedication to regional integration begins with a daily ritual.
"Normally, as a passionate regional integration enthusiast, I begin my day by looking at what is making headlines across the region. I follow different media outlets across East Africa to understand what is informing the news agenda," Kisembo said.
That passion has taken him to all eight member states of the East African Community. Among his most memorable experiences was a recent trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo, where political unrest abruptly interrupted a scheduled meeting with senior government officials.
"The last country I visited was DRC. I was in Kinshasa and had an appointment to meet the Prime Minister. Unfortunately, when protests erupted and embassies were attacked, including ours, we had to be rushed to the airport for safety," he recalled.
His regional journey, however, began two decades ago.
After completing school in 2006, Kisembo travelled to Arusha, Tanzania, to volunteer at the East African Community Secretariat. At the time, he spoke almost no Kiswahili.
"I left Uganda knowing less than ten words in Kiswahili. But I was determined to learn. It took me about a year to master the language because I was immersed in an environment where I could practice it every day," he said.
That decision would prove life-changing. The language became both a professional tool and a symbol of the integration agenda he would spend years promoting.
A committed Pan-Africanist, Kisembo views regional organisations such as the East African Community, Southern African Development Community and Economic Community of West African States as building blocks toward deeper continental unity.
He draws inspiration from African statesmen such as Kwame Nkrumah and Julius Nyerere, both of whom championed African unity long before regional blocs became established institutions.
"Once we have a common currency and a common passport, it becomes much easier to merge these regional blocs into one Africa," he explained.
Yet Kisembo believes integration cannot succeed if it remains an elite project.
"If citizens fully understood the benefits of regional integration, they would support leaders and push for a politically federated region. Unfortunately, many people still see it as an agenda for leaders rather than their own cause," he said.
He argues that artists and creative professionals also have a critical role to play by embracing regional audiences rather than limiting themselves to domestic markets.
According to Kisembo, Ugandan music star Jose Chameleone is among the artists who recognised the opportunities created by a more connected East Africa.
"If you create music and limit it to one language, you limit your market. Jose Chameleone understood the regional audience. His music plays in Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kigali and beyond," he noted.
Through conferences, festivals and youth engagement platforms, Kisembo has spent years encouraging young Africans to view the region as a shared marketplace.
"You may have a product to sell, and your biggest opportunity could be outside Uganda. Integration creates those opportunities," he said.
His own life story mirrors that message.
Born in Nakaseke District, Kisembo spent much of his childhood helping his mother sell newspapers in Kampala. For nearly fifteen years, the family operated from the veranda of the former Uganda Taxi Operators and Drivers Association offices.
"We spent almost fifteen years on the veranda of UTODA as newspaper vendors," he recalled.
At the time, survival rather than ambition dominated daily life.
"I had no dreams. We were simply trying to survive."
His outlook began to change in primary school, where dedicated teachers exposed him to possibilities beyond his circumstances. An English teacher frequently entrusted him with writing notes on the chalkboard despite his small stature, while a science teacher from Busoga inspired him through his professionalism and commitment to education.
During school holidays, Kisembo would return to Kampala's streets to sell newspapers alongside his mother. Among the publications he distributed was The Reporter, collected directly from the late Tamale Mirundi in Kiyembe before being sold across the city.
"We earned about one hundred shillings per newspaper. It wasn't much, but it helped us survive until God changed our circumstances," he said.
The latest chapter of that journey unfolded on April 16 in Nairobi when Kisembo was elected Secretary General of the African Union Kiswahili Commission, a body comprising nine commissioners charged with promoting Kiswahili across Africa and internationally.
The appointment comes as Kiswahili enjoys unprecedented institutional recognition.
The language is an official language in Uganda, one of the official languages of the East African Community and the Southern African Development Community, and a working language of the African Union.
"The Heads of State signed a document making Kiswahili a working language for the continent," Kisembo said.
Its influence is also expanding globally. In 2021, UNESCO designated July 7 as World Kiswahili Language Day, making it the first African language to receive an international day recognised by the United Nations.
This year's celebrations will take place in Paris, further highlighting the language's growing international profile.
For Kisembo, the rise of Kiswahili represents more than linguistic policy. It is a cultural and political statement about Africa's place in the world.
"We have spoken English for far too long, and it isn't ours," he remarked. "Kiswahili gives Africa an opportunity to communicate using a language that belongs to us."
From a childhood spent selling newspapers on Kampala's streets to becoming one of the continent's most prominent advocates for Kiswahili and regional integration, Kisembo's journey stands as a testament to perseverance, opportunity and an enduring belief that Africa's future will be shaped not by its divisions, but by its unity.