DIPLOMACY

President Yoweri Museveni has named Haji Abbey Walusimbi, the chairperson National Resistance Movement (NRM) diaspora league, the new senior presidential advisor on diaspora affairs.

According to a press statement issued by the office senior presidential advisor on diaspora affairs, Ambassador Walusimbi will work closely with the ministry of foreign affairs, Uganda Revenue Authority, NIRA, ministry of lands and UWA among other government agencies, to harness potential investments into Uganda by people in the diaspora.

"This is in line with President Museveni's call on Ugandans in the diaspora, the African Americans and people of all races to consider returning and investing back home," read the statement.

The statement noted that Museveni's move to appoint Walusimibi to the office was aimed at attracting Ugandans to settle in Uganda and set up several investments.

Outlining his immediate action, Walusimbi said he would crack down on trafficking of Ugandans in the name of employment of opportunities."I'm going to work with immigration to ensure that our people are not trafficked in the name of job promises. Those returning home should have easy exit and entry into the country," he said.

He added that working with the ministry of lands, Uganda Investment Authority would warrant both Ugandans in the diaspora and their contacts who wish to contribute to the growth of Uganda's economy and industrial parks.

Walusimbi said it is disheartening that most people cannot think about Diasporas beyond sending remittances."I intend to use this new office to create better jobs for our people in the diaspora, help highlight the gaps in diaspora engagements and attract our people to actively take part in promoting trade and foreign direct investment, to spur free enterprise and transfer newly acquired knowledge alongside creating dynamic businesses all of which are vital to the economic development of Uganda," Walusimbi said.

To achieve his goals, Walusimbi said he would work with all policy makers at different levels to ensure that they enact policies that will remove obstacles and create opportunities for Diasporas to actively engage in the economic progress of Uganda. 

He added that: " "We are going to take explicit measures through mapping diaspora location and talents, detecting goals, promoting a relationship based on trust with the diaspora, and we intend to maintain cultured means of communication with our diaspora all over the world, which will ultimately reassure diaspora contributions to national development."