______________________
UGANDAN DIASPORA
Uganda has commenced a diaspora mapping exercise to explore the potential in its overseas nationals in a bid to contribute to development, the senior presidential advisor on diaspora affairs, Amb. Abbey Walusimbi, has said.
On Sunday, Walusimbi and other government officials departed Kampala for the foreign mission which is due to start this week in California, Massachusetts, Texas and Illinois in America, among other US states.
“The goal is to establish demographics, understand the size, distribution and characteristics of the Ugandan diaspora as well as gathering data for informing policy formulation and programs to engage diaspora communities,” said Walusimbi.
Official government data indicates that there are more than four million Ugandans living outside Uganda.
Whilst not all these people are actively maintaining links with Uganda, a significant proportion is active in supporting the development of the country, with diaspora community remittances topping $1.42 billion (sh5.28 trillion) in 2022, a 13.4% increase from the previous year.
“Diaspora investments in agribusiness, educations, tourism, export promotion, commercial diplomacy and other sectors have contributed to Uganda’s economic growth and job creation tremendously,” Walusimbi said, noting that they are looking to cement or even improve such gains.
According to him, the mapping is also intended to offer deliberate government attention and support for the country’s diaspora populations to overcome hard-hitting challenges on foreign soil.
From the US, the Ugandan contingent will proceed to Toronto and Ottawa in Canada, where they will meet several diaspora chapters to assess and explore immediate and long-term needs that can inform corresponding action.
From North America, the exercise will also be conducted on the European continental bloc in addition to Asia and Oceania, per a schedule to be announced in coming days.
‘I am optimistic’
US-based Ugandan communications officer Sharon Nirere said the purpose of the mapping aligns with her aspirations for personal growth and development of Uganda’s economy.
“Most of the problems we face are not addressed because they are always unknown to our home government. I am optimistic that the mapping will come with solutions to problems we face such as misuse of our remittances, racial abuse, lack of documentation and zero access to critical social services,” she said in a WhatsApp interview.
Over the past years, the Ugandan presidency has shown commitment in alleviating the plight of the Ugandan diaspora by, among other things, creating the Walusimbi-led office specifically designated for diaspora concerns.
“We want to grasp the best way for knowledge transfer and innovation while we also build social, cultural, and economic connections between the diaspora communities and their country of origin,” the diplomat said as he backed the mapping.
“We also seek to protect and improve financial flows sent back to the country and ensuring value for money sent by the diaspora.”
Diaspora efforts commended
Last month, Uganda’s Vice-President, Jessica Alupo, commended the commitment and resilience of Ugandans in the diaspora who she said contribute significantly to the East African nation’s growth and prosperity.
During a meeting in South Africa’s biggest city Johannesburg, Alupo expressed appreciation for the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria’s support of the Convention of Ugandans in Southern Africa (COUSA) initiatives.
The COUSA executive is led by Moses Badru Ssentongo Kibombo, while the board is chaired by Daniel Echun.
Alupo highlighted the vital role that the Ugandan diaspora plays in national development, emphasising that the government values the contributions of its diaspora community as crucial partners in the nation’s progress.
She noted that the engagement with COUSA underscores the government’s determination to sustain and strengthen these ties, ensuring that the diaspora remains an integral part of Uganda’s socio-economic fabric.
Credit: Source link