Kampala, Uganda: Senior Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs, Ambassador Hajj Abbey Walusimbi, has called on Ugandan diaspora returnees to unite under a common platform to strengthen engagement with government and contribute their knowledge, skills and international experience towards Uganda’s socio-economic transformation.
The appeal was made on Friday, July 24, 2026, during a meeting with the Interim Executive Committee of the Diaspora Returnees in Uganda Organization, led by its Chairman Hajji Musoke Muhammad and Secretary General Bbosa Twaha at his offices in Kampala.
The engagement focused on strengthening collaboration between the Office of the President and Ugandans who have returned home after living and working abroad, with both parties underscoring the importance of inclusion, national unity and harnessing diaspora expertise for development.
The Diaspora Returnees in Uganda Organization is an inclusive platform that welcomes all Ugandans returning from abroad, regardless of the circumstances surrounding their return, their political affiliation, ethnic background or the countries from which they have returned.
During the engagement, committee members commended Ambassador Walusimbi for what they described as his consistent leadership and unwavering support for Ugandans in the diaspora, particularly those who were recently repatriated from South Africa.
They pledged to use the knowledge, professional skills and global exposure acquired while living abroad to support Uganda’s development agenda, saying returnees possess valuable expertise that can contribute to both public and private sector growth.
The committee also appealed to government to consider qualified diaspora returnees for opportunities to serve in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), arguing that many possess competencies that can strengthen public service delivery and national development initiatives.
Members further expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for what they described as his continued fatherly guidance and leadership, thanking him for supporting Ugandans returning home and creating an enabling environment for their reintegration.
Responding to the committee’s concerns, Ambassador Walusimbi reaffirmed the Office of the President’s commitment to supporting Ugandan diaspora returnees and ensuring they remain an integral part of the country’s development journey.
He encouraged all Ugandans returning from different parts of the world to formally register with the Diaspora Returnees in Uganda Organization at its offices located at UK Mall in Kansanga, saying a united and organized membership would enable government to plan more effectively and extend targeted support where needed.
Walusimbi noted that building a comprehensive register of returnees would strengthen communication between government and the diaspora community while making it easier to identify areas where returnees can contribute their expertise, entrepreneurship and investment.
He emphasized that national development requires the participation of all Ugandans, both at home and abroad, adding that unity remains the strongest foundation for meaningful engagement and sustainable progress.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to deepen cooperation between the Office of the President and the Diaspora Returnees in Uganda Organization as efforts continue to strengthen the role of returning Ugandans in advancing inclusive national development.
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