Pretoria, South Africa: The Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Jacob Marksons Oboth-Oboth has pledged to table before Parliament a range of concerns affecting Ugandans living in South Africa following a high-level engagement with leaders of the Ugandan diaspora community.
The meeting, convened on Wednesday morning by Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. Ambassador Paul Amoru, brought together community leaders and representatives of Ugandans living in South Africa to discuss pressing welfare and legal challenges facing the diaspora.
According to Mr Isma Luzige, the Chairman of the NRM South Africa Chapter, the discussions focused on issues including reparations, amnesty, welfare concerns, cases of distress among Ugandans, documentation challenges, and access to legal support.
Speaking during the engagement, community leaders highlighted the need for urgent government intervention to address challenges affecting Ugandans living and working in South Africa, many of whom continue to face difficulties related to immigration documentation, legal representation, and social welfare support.
“On behalf of the Ugandan community, we presented these concerns and emphasized the need for urgent intervention,” Luzige said in a statement issued after the meeting.
He noted that the Speaker listened attentively to the issues raised and acknowledged the importance of safeguarding the dignity, welfare, and rights of Ugandans living abroad.
“The Rt. Hon. Speaker listened attentively and acknowledged the importance of addressing these matters to protect the dignity and well-being of Ugandans living abroad,” Luzige added.
According to the NRM South Africa Chapter leadership, Oboth-Oboth committed to presenting the concerns before Parliament to facilitate timely intervention and a coordinated government response.
The Speaker also pledged to work closely with the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria to follow up on the issues raised and ensure regular feedback is provided to the diaspora community regarding progress made.
The engagement comes amid growing calls from Ugandans in the diaspora for stronger government support, particularly in addressing welfare emergencies, legal challenges, and documentation-related issues affecting citizens living outside the country.
Uganda’s diaspora community continues to play a significant role in national development through remittances, investment, skills transfer, and promotion of Uganda’s interests abroad.
Community leaders welcomed the Speaker’s commitment and expressed optimism that the engagement would strengthen collaboration between Parliament, Uganda’s diplomatic missions, and Ugandan communities abroad.
Luzige also commended Ambassador Paul Amoru for facilitating the meeting, describing it as an important platform for ensuring the concerns of Ugandans in South Africa are heard at the highest levels of government.
“We thank the Rt. Hon. Speaker for his commitment and H.E. Ambassador Paul Amoru for facilitating this important engagement,” he said.
The NRM South Africa Chapter said it will continue engaging relevant government institutions and keep community members informed on developments arising from the discussions.
If you would like your article/opinion to be published on Uganda’s most authoritative news platform, send your submission on: [email protected]. You can also follow DailyExpress on WhatsApp and on Twitter (X) for realtime updates.
