President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged all Ugandans living abroad to formally register with the government through their respective associations, saying the exercise will help the state plan better and strengthen engagement with the diaspora community.
Addressing a delegation of Ugandan diaspora members at State Lodge, Nakasero, on Tuesday, many of whom had traveled for the just-concluded NRM Delegates Conference, President Museveni emphasized the importance of accurate data on Ugandans abroad.
“What is crucial now is to know the Ugandans, name by name, country by country, so that we know how to plan for them. Do you agree with that?” he asked, drawing a resounding “yes” from representatives across more than 20 countries.
Museveni clarified that the registration drive would cover all Ugandans abroad, not just NRM supporters.
“We need to know all the diaspora, whether they are NRM or not,” he said. “Then the NRM people will have their own leadership elected by themselves, and the bigger diaspora, if they want, can have their own structures too.”
The President noted that the often-cited figure of four million Ugandans abroad might be inaccurate, stressing the need for a comprehensive database.
“You may be saying we are talking of four million, but when they are not there. They may be less or more,” he remarked.
The registration will be led by Maj. (Rtd) Awich Pollar, NRM Director of External Affairs, and Ms. Barbra Barungi from State House, in partnership with Ugandan community leaders in each country.
“You must work with the people on the ground, country by country, so that you can register Ugandans who want to be registered,” Museveni directed.
Diaspora to Have Direct Voice in Investment
In a major announcement, President Museveni said the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) would soon create a special position for the diaspora community.
“I will appoint one of you, once recommended, as a deputy director of UIA. When you come, you will go to him directly without going through other people,” the President pledged.
Maj. (Rtd) Pollar explained that Article 25 of the NRM Constitution allows any group of 20 or more Ugandans abroad to form an NRM branch, enjoying the same status as an NRM district within Uganda.
“NRM UK, for instance, is equivalent to NRM Mbarara or Hoima district,” he noted, adding that branches can form smaller cells in various cities.
The diaspora delegates, led by Mr. Philip Kakuru, welcomed the President’s commitments, pledging to mobilize investment, advocate for Uganda’s interests abroad, and contribute to nation-building initiatives.
“We feel honored that when we mention your name, they salute all of us because of your work for Uganda and Pan-Africanism,” Kakuru said.
President Museveni concluded by calling for structured, transparent engagement between government and the diaspora, emphasizing that the time had come to formalize their role in Uganda’s development.
“Let’s start now. The organization has not been very clear in the past, but we are determined to set up clear structures going forward,” he said.