Ugandans in Qatar laud Kampala-Doha relations

The Ugandan community in Qatar has lauded the deepening bilateral relations between Kampala and Doha.

The cordial relations are not limited to diplomatic aspects, according to Benson Akampumuza, the chairperson of the Uganda Peninsula Community and the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Qatar Chapter.

Akampumuza, who has served the community for the last 17 years, says the bilateral relations have advantaged trade, people-to-people exchanges, cultural blending, and tourism, among others.

“Due to the warm relations, the Uganda Peninsula Community has also been able to execute several initiatives designed to foster cultural exchanges, talent development and community support,” he says.

Akampumuza, who also doubles as Patriotic League of Uganda Qatar Chapter chairperson, adds: “We have equally taken significant steps to uplift the culture and well-being of Ugandans living in Qatar.”

Akampumuza tells New Vision that because of the good relations, the community started a football team called the Cranes Doha Football Club. The team, Akampumuza says, has been critical in encouraging physical activities and the unity of Ugandans in the country through sports.

He adds that among the underlying challenges they are working on with the Ugandan Doha Embassy is the passport and national identity cards (IDs) renewal.

The National Identification Registration Authority (NIRA) launched a nationwide mass registration and renewal exercise for National IDs, on May 27. The initiative aims at registering 17.2 million Ugandans, and the group fears that their people may still miss out.

“The other challenges include high cost of airline tickets and high taxes on exported goods, especially food products. If all these are addressed, it will help further strengthen the bilateral relations,” Akampumuza says.

Official information indicates that the trade volumes between Uganda and Qatar annually averaged approximately shillings 79.3 billion. In 2023, Uganda exported goods worth $13.43m (about shillings 56.4 billion) to Qatar.

According to the Ugandan Deputy Ambassador to Doha, Mohammed Baswari Kezaala, a lot of initiatives are being undertaken between Uganda and Qatar for the benefit of people on both sides.

These, Kezaala said, include the Uganda Tourism and Cultural Expo, held in Doha in June this year. It was convened as a high-level platform to showcase Uganda’s diverse tourism offerings, rich cultural heritage, and broad investment potential to stakeholders in the Qatari market and the wider Gulf region.

“Our Embassy remains committed to creating meaningful linkages that will benefit both nations economically, culturally, and diplomatically. I thank our partners, tour operators, cultural performers, media, and the diaspora for making this journey a success. This is just the beginning,” Kezaala said.

According to the Embassy, the expo attracted over 200 attendees, including 50 Qatari travel agents, 20 Ugandan tour operators, potential investors, government officials, cultural performers, media representatives, and members of the Ugandan diaspora.