By Leonard Kamugisha Akida
KAMPALA
The Office of the President, Diaspora Affairs, will next week host a high-level conference aimed at strengthening cooperation between Ugandans in the diaspora, forced migrants and stakeholders in national development.
The conference, themed “Bridging Worlds: Diaspora and Forced Migrants for Shared Prosperity,” will be held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, at the Office of the President, Twin Towers Conference Hall.
Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, the presidential adviser on diaspora affairs, said the meeting will bring together diaspora communities, forced migrant representatives, senior government officials, private sector players and development partners.
He said the conference will seek to build practical partnerships, identify mechanisms for mutual support and generate recommendations for shared prosperity and national development.
Titwe Sam, an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Uganda’s diaspora is a strategic national asset that extends the country’s presence and influence globally.
He said the ministry’s diaspora services department works with the Office of the President, Diaspora Affairs, and partners such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to protect Ugandans abroad and strengthen their engagement with the country.
Sam said diaspora engagement is also an instrument of foreign policy, economic diplomacy and soft power.
Meanwhile, Rose Kabagyenyi, former Kisoro woman MP and senior presidential adviser on agriculture, urged Ugandans abroad to return home and invest in agriculture.
She said Uganda should continue creating an enabling environment and incentives for diaspora investment, particularly in coffee and other agricultural enterprises.
Kabagyenyi also encouraged Ugandans to use available resources and networks under the Parish Development Model to improve food security and household incomes, amid prolonged drought in parts of the country.
The conference will be followed by the Diaspora Unity Marathon on September 20 at Old Kampala Senior Secondary School, starting at 6:30am.
Ambassador Walusimbi said marathon will promote unity, wellness, solidarity and national belonging among diaspora communities, forced migrants and Ugandans at home.
