Museveni addresses returnees from South Africa on wealth creation

  ________________ 

President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans evacuated from South Africa to embrace wealth creation as they rebuild their lives.

The President made the appeal while addressing more than 1,000 Ugandans who were evacuated from South Africa following xenophobic protests, at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi on Sunday, July 19, 2026.

The President opened his address with the Luganda phrase, "Nantabulilwa Yasabala Bwabumba", and cautioned Ugandans against moving from one foreign country to another in search of opportunities that may not exist.

“We have four sectors here in Uganda where you can make wealth. They are agriculture, services, industrialisation, Information, communication and technology (ICT),” Museveni said.

The President used televised stories of successful Ugandans who had embraced his four-sector wealth creation model to encourage the returnees to start income-generating ventures.

The event attracted several senior government officials, including Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja, acting foreign affairs minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, Commissioner for Patriotism Hellen Seku, Ugandan Ambassador to South Africa Paul Amoru, among others.

The returnees, who spent the previous two weeks undergoing training in patriotism, entrepreneurship, self-defence and basic paramilitary skills, mounted a colourful parade to honour President Museveni and other dignitaries upon their arrival at the institute.

The rehabilitation programme follows Uganda's evacuation of more than 1,003 citizens from South Africa following xenophobic protests targeting foreign nationals.

The violence disrupted businesses, destroyed property and forced many Ugandans to flee for safety. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, three Ugandans were killed during the attacks, while hundreds of others lost jobs, businesses and sources of livelihood.

Speaking at the function, acting foreign affairs minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo said the government acted swiftly to ensure the safe evacuation of the affected Ugandans and provide them with the necessary support upon their return home.

The minister also thanked the leadership of Ugandans living in South Africa for coordinating closely with the Ugandan government during the evacuation exercise, saying their cooperation enabled authorities to identify and safely repatriate the affected citizens.

Earlier, NALI commandant Col Okei Rukogota welcomed President Museveni, describing the occasion as "a day of great happiness, joy and jubilation" for both the institute and the country.

Rukogota said the prevailing peace and stability had made it possible for the rehabilitation programme to be conducted successfully, crediting the district leadership and the various government agencies that worked together to support the returnees.

He explained that NALI partnered with the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps to provide ideological orientation aimed at helping the returnees rediscover opportunities available within Uganda.

According to Rukogota, the programme was only possible because of President Museveni's strategic guidance and leadership, as well as the support of Prime Minister Nabbanja, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Uganda People's Defence Forces leadership and other government institutions.

He also commended the leadership of the returnees for working closely with the government throughout the training period and reaffirmed NALI's commitment to supporting the President's vision of building a patriotic and self-reliant population.

"NALI reaffirms its resolve to relentlessly support Your Excellency's strategic intent," Rukogota said before thanking the President for honouring the function and for his continued support to the institute.

On behalf of the returnees, their chairperson, Felix Mugabi, thanked President Museveni for facilitating their evacuation from South Africa and ensuring they underwent rehabilitation and ideological training at NALI before returning to their respective communities.

Introducing members of the returnees' leadership committee and representatives of the Confederation of Ugandans in Southern Africa (COUSA), the chairperson presented a memorandum expressing gratitude to the President for what he described as a life-changing intervention.

The memorandum noted that many Ugandans had lost businesses, employment and property during the xenophobic violence, while three of their compatriots lost their lives.

"Our businesses were looted or destroyed. Employment opportunities were lost. Livelihoods were wiped away. And most painfully, we lost three of our fellow Ugandans," Mugabi said.

The returnees also thanked the government for supporting the bereaved families and repatriating the bodies of the deceased for dignified burials in Uganda.

They said the rehabilitation programme had renewed their confidence in their country and exposed them to opportunities available through government initiatives such as the Parish Development Model, youth empowerment programmes and skills development.

The group pledged to apply the knowledge and skills acquired during the training in agriculture, entrepreneurship, information technology and other productive ventures to rebuild their lives.

Reflecting on their experiences abroad, Mugabi said many had left Uganda believing success could only be found outside the country, but the NALI training had changed their perspective by demonstrating the opportunities available at home.

The returnees appealed to President Museveni to support the establishment of a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) to enable them to mobilise savings, access affordable financing and rebuild businesses destroyed during the unrest.

They also requested additional government assistance for members who returned home without shelter, employment or any means of restarting their lives, saying targeted support would help them reintegrate into their communities.