Nabbanja urges repatriated Ugandans to start-up small scale businesses
Nabbanja encouraged young people to return from the diaspora and invest in their homeland.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja addresses the media after handing over President Yoweri Museveni’s Shs2 million support to South African returnees at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala on Monday, July 20, 2026. (Photo by Isaac Nuwagaba)
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Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has urged Ugandans repatriated from South Africa to start small-scale businesses, emphasising the potential for growth and prosperity in Uganda.
Handing over sh2m donated by President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni to 43 beneficiaries at the Office of the Prime Minister in Kampala on July 20, 2026, Nabbanja encouraged young people to return from the diaspora and invest in their homeland.
“Go and make stores of produce and start to earn a living,” Nabbanja advised, sharing her personal experience of starting a business with only sh370,000.
“I am still eating on that money up to today. With the right mindset and support, repatriated Ugandans can thrive in their homeland and contribute to national development,” she said, highlighting the potential for success with hard work and determination.
1124 Ugandans from 738 families were repatriated from South Africa, with President Museveni directly supporting 743 returnees after spending 15 days on a re-integration and patriotism program at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) Kyankwanzi in Kyankwanzi district.
“Invest in these areas to benefit ordinary locals at home and the local economy by investing in agro-processing industries where many of you have been earning a living in a foreign country,” Nabbanja urged.
The Prime Minister commended President Museveni for prioritising Ugandans, both at home and abroad, emphasising the need for peace and stability in the country.
“Keep peace in our villages. You can invest all your energy and resources in developing agriculture, service industry, industrialisation, and information communication technology (ICT),” she appealed, encouraging the repatriated Ugandans to be patient, disciplined, and honest in their business ventures.
The government's initiative aims to promote economic growth, create employment opportunities, and improve livelihoods.
600 Ugandans still trapped in South Africa
Nabbanja revealed that more than 600 Ugandans are still in South Africa after they registered with the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, which the government is handling to facilitate their return.
“Out of 20 people who were battling cases, only 5 managed to come with us, with 15 Ugandans declining our offer,” he said.
All foreigners who had no capacity to operate businesses of 5m rand (over sh1b) were disregarded as investors and were forced to leave, with their properties confiscated, Ssentongo insisted.
Some had not come back to Uganda for the last 20 years, and a big number lacked valid permits, with their properties still occupied by South Africans despite repeated pressures, Ssentongo added.
Do not undermine humble beginnings
Maj. Kigozi Kaweesi asked returnees to engage in all businesses irrespective of their experience and status.
“Do not undermine jobs or start small businesses. While I was a resident district commissioner in Nakaseke, my mother in Kampala was working on a public toilet earning between sh200 to sh500, but she would come home with sh200,000 per day,” Kaweesi said.
"It reached a time when former Kampala mayor, Sebaana Kizito started competing with my mother to get a tender with the Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) to engage in a lucrative business," he emphasized.