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More than 500 participants are set to attend the first-ever Convention of the Ugandan Diaspora in Southern Africa, scheduled for November 18 – 19 at the Villa Africa Boutique Hotel in Pretoria, South Africa.
The maiden event, which is jointly organized by the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria and the Confederation of Ugandans in Southern Africa (COUSA), offers a platform for enhancing the unity of Ugandans in Southern Africa and attracting investment from local investors and the Ugandan diaspora in the region to Uganda.
Speaking about the potential of the Convention, Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Ambassador Paul Amoru, described it as a milestone event that aims to strengthen the ties between Uganda and Southern Africa, promote trade and investment, and embrace the achievement of the Ugandan community.
“This Convention presents a tremendous opportunity to unlock financial, business, and trading opportunities for the Ugandan diaspora in Southern Africa,” affirmed Ambassador Amoru. “With approximately one million Ugandans in the region, it forms a significant potential social and economic transformative group. By addressing the financial challenges faced by Ugandans in the diaspora and implementing proposed solutions, COUSA aims to achieve outcomes such as increased financial inclusion, property ownership opportunities, secure land transactions, diverse financial services, economic growth, job creation, technology adoption, and freedom of movement for skill transfer.”
Ambassador Amoru, who has served as High Commissioner of Uganda to South Africa for more than a year, also has additional accreditation to serve as Uganda’s envoy to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, and Eswatini. He has a solid political background, having represented Dokolo North in Uganda’s 10th Parliament and serving as Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on ICT and National Guidance.
The co-hosts of the Convention, COUSA, were founded in 2018 as a non-profit organization that aims to foster dialogue, information sharing, collaboration, and networking amongst Ugandans in Southern Africa. The Confederation says it recognizes the need to unite the large Ugandan community in the region and maximize their common leverage for excellence in the social, economic, academic, and cultural sectors.
According to the organizers, the Convention will serve as a platform to promote business brands and entice South African investors to consider opportunities in Uganda. It will feature keynote speeches, raise awareness among institutions, provide entertainment, and mark the inauguration of the organization. Additionally, it will bring together public and private sector initiatives to enhance enterprise development and embrace the achievements within the Ugandan community residing in Southern Africa.
The convention will also feature the launch of the annual Diaspora High Achiever Awards, which are geared at “celebrating consistent and outstanding contributions by members of the Ugandan diaspora community.”
Some of the sponsors of the Convention include Uganda Airlines, which has regular flights to South Africa, Uganda Development Bank, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, DFCU Bank and Comfort Homes.
To the Uganda High Commission, the Convention is the culmination of several efforts to strengthen the relations between Uganda and countries in Southern Africa and ensure the active inclusion of the Ugandan diaspora in the region in such engagements. Over the past year, they say, the High Commission has successfully hosted a series of events that have paved the way for increased government-to-government and people-to-people engagement, including the second Session of the Uganda-South Africa Joint Commission of Cooperation and President Museveni’s state visit to South Africa.
“These milestones have solidified collaboration in sectors ranging from tourism and transport to correctional services and ICTs,” explained Ambassador Amoru.
In addition, the Uganda-South Africa Joint Commission of Cooperation held in July 2023 provided a crucial platform for evaluating progress, discussing future initiatives, and strengthening bilateral ties. President Yoweri Museveni’s state visit to South Africa also resulted in the signing of several Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), laying the groundwork for collaboration in vital sectors.
Furthermore, the High Commission hosted the Uganda—South Africa Trade, Tourism & Investment Summit, which took place in February 2023 and helped facilitate discussions on trade and investment opportunities. Additionally, President Museveni hosted a business breakfast meeting in March 2023, where MTN Group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting private sector investments from South Africa in Uganda.
The public engagements are also being complimented by behind-the-scenes moves to easy movement and efforts to do business in Uganda by both foreign investors from Southern Africa and the Ugandan diaspora. For instance, says the High Commission, it has successfully worked to reduce the time it takes to process a passport at the Mission from six to three weeks through the implementation of an e-passport online system.
“This streamlined process has significantly improved efficiency and convenience for Ugandan citizens and travellers alike,” said Ambassador Amoru. “The enrolment of 928 applicants and the issuance of 283 emergency travel documents demonstrate the High Commission’s dedication to providing prompt and efficient consular services to those in need.”
The move has culminated in the substantial increase in the number of actual travellers to Uganda, from 6,397 in the financial year 2021/2022 to 11,906 in the financial year 2022/2023, which Ambassador Amoru says is “a testament to the country’s growing appeal as a destination for various purposes.”
Ambassador Amoru added, “Of the 11,906 actual travellers in the financial year 2022/2023, most travelled for business and tourism as follows: 4,968 visitors for business, 3,556 for tourism and visiting friends and family, and 503 South Africans of Ugandan origin which showcases the diverse range of attractions and opportunities Uganda has to offer. Uganda continues to be a sought-after destination for diplomatic passport holders and for those seeking opportunities in education, medical, and spiritual tourism.”
