In a glamorous and extensive Uganda-United Arab Emirates Convention that was held last weekend on November 26, 2023, in Dubai to address edge cutting issues affecting Ugandans living in the Middle East, the former Deputy Ambassador of Uganda to Germany and current Head of Diaspora Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), John Muhindo said that, Uganda needs to enact a diaspora policy to streamline Uganda’s economic interests from its communities living abroad.

The diplomat said that, Uganda needs to organize the diaspora to be a community of people that contribute to the country’s socio-economic development.

He noted that, it’s a process that other East African countries have already adopted ahead of Uganda, adding that, the diaspora has a big contribution to the host countries, but more to their home countries and therefore, the home countries must be deliberate in getting the best out of its people living abroad.

“We need to galvanize and move so fast and form a formidable diaspora community abroad that can contribute to attraction of investments in Uganda and at the same time increase the foreign direct investments flow into Uganda’s economy,” Muhindo noted.

Speaking at the same Convention, H.E Henry Mayega, the Ambassador of Uganda to Dubai said that, the diaspora factor is important highlighting that in the current state, it remits over USD 200 Million annually to the country. He noted that in UAE alone, Uganda exports over USD two Billion and imports over USD 495 Million which he said gives Uganda a comparative advantage.

“As Uganda gets deeper involvement with the diaspora, there is need for not only to foster superb bilateral relations with host countries but also to actively get involved in searching for foreign direct investments, tourists and trade opportunities” Mayega said.

Ambassador Muhindo, in an interview with our reporter said that, the challenge they are dealing with is the lack of sufficient financial support to the diaspora department partly due to the budgetary squeezes due to the law against homosexuality that was passed.

He noted that never the less, Uganda needs to strengthen more avenues to ensure sustainability in the economy without succumbing to the whims of the so called powerful international actors.

“Diaspora is a matter which is very central in foreign policy as far as contributing to our economy is concerned.  Therefore, if we need to get benefits from our diaspora, we need to inject money in diaspora,” Muhindo said.

He said that, the other challenge is the fact that diaspora work is based out of the country and yet embassies do not have money to donate to the people there, noting however that, embassies can provide means and tools for Ugandans in the diaspora to economically contribute to the growth of the country.

The Chief of International Organization for Migration added that, enacting the diaspora policy would streamline all the needs and address challenges ranging from funding, migrant protection and assistance, labor migration and social inclusion which all will enable huge economic contribution to Uganda by people living abroad.

The Diaspora Department Affairs which is headed by Ambassador Muhindo, among many other functions sphere heads the coordination of activities that sets global national interests of Uganda and management of diaspora activities to ensure positive impact on Uganda’s economy. According to Muhindo, this includes diaspora outreach and engagements, monitoring and evaluation of national, regional and global outcomes that impact the diaspora.