Gov't to meet Ugandans from diaspora on December 28 in Nsambya

By Ms Florence Kiremerwa

DIASPORA

As Ugandans from the Diaspora are already in the country to celebrate the Christmas Holiday and spend their monies, Kampala city has warmed up.

The inflation in the dollar rate, increase in travel fare; and the fill-up of the numerous leisure places are all indicators of the bump from the diasporians.  

Meanwhile, on the social side of it all, spouses to the diasporians are looking forward to receive big gifts like new posh cars-Prado; range Rover; purchase of houses and mansions; perform ceremonies e.g. introductions; weddings; trend perfumes; Mac Pro; new Apple watches and the newest version I-phones.

All this hullabaloo spiced up with the dining and clubbing or chilling in the many available leisure places in and around Kampala and its suburbs.

Meanwhile, those who have been taking care of the diasporians spouses here in Uganda may now be in sorrow till mid- January to resume their ‘'assigned duties''. In the same event, some shall be dumped for good and never resume their ‘'assigned duties'' since others may be taking marriage oaths with their long time distant companions. The moment of truth of yet to be unveiled.

Consequently, many institutions both public and private are busy organizing events to either plough into the diasporians incomes or provide free services for their benefit.

In the same breath, the Office of the President on Diaspora Issues is eager to bring all the diasporians under a ‘'one Stop Centre'' on December 28 at Mestil Hotel -Nsambya where all government institutions will offer services to the Ugandans from Diaspora.

This Presidential Initiative is one of its kind to eliminate the middlemen/blockers who camouflage as institutional agents' defrauding the diasporians, which in tarnishes governments' image. 

Although this is a presidential initiative, some of the government agencies, would prefer not to participate as some of the civil servant are part of curtails that fraud the diasporians.

Some of these institutions would rather choose not to participate since; some of the civil servants see this as a stumbling block in stopping them from requesting for monies from the diasporians for the free government services they may require. Such institutions would rather go up-country where some of the services may not be demanded as long they get their per diem allowances.

Apparently, government of Uganda recognises the contribution of the diasporians to the socio-economic development of this country. Institutions like the Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) is willing to partner with the diasporians with idle family land through renting it and utilise the same to grow seedlings for distribution to community. This is in an effort to eliminate the rate at which idle land for the diasporians is being grabbed by the ‘'mafias''.

While the ‘Uganda Diaspora Awareness Workshop'' is a service delivery event at the One stop Centre, there will be many government institutions, opportunities for networking; investment partnerships, and tourism short-holiday packages shall be provided.

Although this is a FREE event for the diasporians, I would encourage courageous college students; ‘singles' and the public to take advantage of the occasion to come and network with the diasporians.


ugandadiasporaawareness@gmail.com 
Special Presidential Assistant on Diaspora Issues