The Ugandan government has issued a passionate appeal to its citizens living, working, and studying in Ethiopia to invest back home, transfer critical skills, and build cross-border business partnerships aimed at accelerating the nation’s socio-economic development.
The call was delivered during a vibrant two-day diaspora engagement forum convened in Addis Ababa. Organized by the Ugandan Embassy in Ethiopia, the landmark event was held under the theme: “Connecting, Celebrating and Contributing: Harnessing the Ugandan Diaspora for National Development.”
Addressing delegates and community members, Ambassador Johnnie Muhindo, Head of the Diaspora Services Department at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, announced significant policy progress designed to better integrate non-resident citizens into the national economy. He revealed that the government is in the final stages of drafting a comprehensive National Diaspora Policy aimed at formalizing, protecting, and expanding engagement with citizens living abroad.
Ambassador Muhindo explained that the draft framework has undergone extensive global consultations with Ugandan diaspora communities across various continents. He emphasized that the upcoming policy forms a critical pillar of Uganda’s broader economic and commercial diplomacy strategy, designed to streamline remittance channels, incentivize direct investment, and simplify regulatory processes for Ugandans seeking to launch businesses in their home country.
Echoing these sentiments, Uganda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Her Excellency Ms. Rebecca Amuge Otengo, urged the Ugandan expatriate community to maintain unbreakable ties with their homeland and proactively participate in its economic growth story.
“The development of our country is a shared responsibility,” Ambassador Otengo stressed during her address. “Each of us has something to contribute, whether through professional expertise, new ideas, investment, enterprise, or support to our families and communities.”
Ambassador Otengo further encouraged Ugandans in Ethiopia to remain actively engaged with national affairs, visit home frequently, and serve as strong cultural and economic ambassadors within their host communities in Ethiopia.
The forum also highlighted the enduring diplomatic and commercial relationship between Uganda and Ethiopia. Representing Ambassador Zerihun Abebe, Ethiopia’s Director-General for African Affairs, Mr. Wondafrash Debere Tolera commended the Ugandan community residing in Ethiopia for their exemplary conduct, professional excellence, and ongoing contribution to regional growth.
Highlighting the deep bilateral bonds uniting both East African nations, Mr. Tolera pointed to the thriving Ethiopian diaspora presence in Kampala, particularly within the bustling capital suburbs of Muyenga, Kansanga, and Buziga—vibrant commercial areas locally referred to as “Little Ethiopia.” He noted that these organic people-to-people connections provide a powerful springboard for deeper trade, tourism, and industrial partnerships between Ugandan and Ethiopian entrepreneurs.
The Addis Ababa gathering brought together a diverse cross-section of Ugandan professionals, university students, business owners, researchers, and families. Panel discussions focused on practical investment avenues, joint ventures, research collaborations, and structured partnerships with both the Ugandan government and private sector actors.
Beyond policy discussions, the event delivered direct, tangible public services to attendees. Key government agencies, including the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF), set up dedicated operations at the venue to offer advisory services, register citizens, and outline savings and investment programs available to citizens abroad.
