UGANDANS | BUSINESS | DIASPORA 

Ugandans in the diaspora have been urged to promote Uganda's commercial and economic activities within the countries they are residents of.

Anthony Agama Woling, the minister counsellor in the department of diaspora affairs at the foreign affairs ministry, says their policy is to promote Uganda's commercial and economic diplomacy, which the Ugandans in the diaspora can embrace.

“It pays to be organised because it really becomes easier for the Government to reach out to the diaspora through the associations,” Agama says.

“Diaspora citizens all over the globe are drivers of growth in their countries. In Uganda, the main channel through which they contribute to development is through remittances,” he adds.

Remittances from Ugandans living abroad have begun improving following the COVID-19 impact. According to the Bank of Uganda Annual Supervision Report, remittance inflows increased from $579m in 2020 to $599.3m in 2021.

Agama made the call during the Uganda Diaspora Network breakfast meeting at the Kampala Serena Hotel recently.  

Agama said foreign affairs ministry permanent secretary Vincent Waiswa Bagiire could not make it.

Consular department created

The Government has, therefore, created the consular department in the foreign affairs ministry and it is expected to deal with challenges raised by Ugandans in the diaspora.

The department, along with other government agencies, facilitates the smooth movement of Ugandans in and out of the country by issuing letters of recommendation for those in need of passports.

It issues diplomatic notes to those seeking to travel abroad for official duties and provides certification of documents such as academic certificates for those interested in getting jobs and studying abroad among others.

Diaspora regrouping

At the event, it was revealed that the foreign affairs ministry, in collaboration with Uganda’s missions abroad, has embarked on a diaspora regrouping and registration exercise in order to create a national diaspora data bank for better planning and service delivery.

This exercise is expected to produce the Diaspora Data Bank. Regrouping means classifying the diaspora into appropriate associations such as professionals, labourers, business persons and UN workers.

Agama said there are challenges in gathering this data bank due to financial constraints and varying privacy laws in different countries. 

The Government, through the foreign affairs ministry, holds ambassador’s conferences, which is a formal platform to engage and equip Uganda’s ambassadors on domestic policies, trends and Government positions and emphasis on topical issues such as diaspora engagement.

Another tool used by the Government to engage the diaspora is the business and trade symposiums. 

Several facilities are being developed by many agencies of the Government such as NSSF, Bank of Uganda, Uganda Investment Authority and URA.

There are also engagements with organisations like the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), UNDP and FAO whose targeted interventions benefit the diaspora.

It was also revealed that the Uganda diaspora in agribusiness network has been launched with support from FAO. This network brings together the diaspora investing in agriculture to match make with Ugandan investors in the same field.

The Government is collaborating with the IOM to carry out diaspora mapping beginning with those in US. This exercise is meant to categorise the various diaspora in their respective subgroups for planning and engagement in development activities.

The Government is also coming up with a national diaspora policy, which aims to lay out the framework for the Government to engage with the diaspora for mutual benefit.