KAMPALA, Uganda: The Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, Ambassador Hajj Abbey Kigozi Walusimbi, has called on Africans living abroad to take a more active role in the continent’s economic transformation through increased investment, partnerships and knowledge transfer.
Hajj Walusimbi made the appeal while officially opening the inaugural Pan-African Diaspora Economic, Business and Investment Summit held at the Commonwealth Conference Centre, Speke Resort Munyonyo on Friday, May 22, 2026. The summit brought together investors, traditional leaders, policymakers, academics and diaspora representatives from across Africa, the Caribbean, Europe and North America.
Organised by the Pan African Fraternity in conjunction with AIDO Network International and the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA), the summit sought to strengthen economic cooperation between Africa and its global diaspora under the theme: “Transforming Vision into Action: Mobilizing Capital, Partnerships, and Opportunities for Africa’s Growth.”
Addressing delegates, Walusimbi described the gathering as more than a conference, saying it represented a decisive moment for Africans at home and abroad to convert decades of Pan-African aspirations into meaningful economic progress.
“This is not just another conference. This is a convergence of minds, capital, and unbreakable will, determined to convert decades of aspiration into tangible prosperity for Africa,” Walusimbi said.
The Presidential Advisor noted that Africa’s diaspora has evolved from being a distant observer into a strategic development partner capable of driving investment, innovation and entrepreneurship across the continent.
“The Diaspora is no longer a distant player but a vital strategic partner that contributes investors and innovators, essential to Africa’s transformation,” he said.
Ambassador Walusimbi pointed to Uganda’s record diaspora remittances, which reached approximately USD 1.4 billion in 2024, as evidence of the enormous economic potential that exists within African communities living abroad.
He argued that beyond remittances, the continent must now focus on attracting long-term investment and strategic partnerships capable of accelerating industrialisation and job creation.
Walusimbi further revealed that the Office of the President, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other stakeholders, is finalising Uganda’s National Diaspora Policy to better harness the skills, expertise, networks and financial resources of Ugandans living abroad.
“To our brothers and sisters in the Diaspora: Uganda and Africa are ready for you. Your skills, capital, networks, and innovative spirit are deeply welcome. The doors are wide open. The time for hesitation is over. The time for bold, collective action is now,” he said.
He thanked the Uganda Investment Authority, AIDO Network International, the Pan-African Fraternity and other partners for organising the summit, which also served as a precursor to the upcoming African Liberation Day commemorations and the 8th Annual AIDO Convention.
Former Minister of Finance Prof. Ezra Suruma, who delivered a keynote address on “Financing Africa’s Economic Liberation,” highlighted the importance of indigenous capital formation and economic self-reliance in Africa’s development journey.
The summit attracted high-profile participants, including kings and queens from Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Jamaica, South Africa, Scotland, the United Kingdom and the Buganda Kingdom under the auspices of AIDO Network International.
Representatives from key government institutions, including the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA), Uganda Registration Services Bureau (URSB), Bank of Uganda and the Directorate of Citizenship and Immigration Control, also participated in discussions on investment and business opportunities.
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