Kampala, Uganda – On December 18 and 19, 2025, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) hosted the 2nd Uganda Diaspora Convention at Speke Resort Munyonyo. Held under the theme “Economic and Commercial Diplomacy,” the Convention brought together Ugandans from around the world, senior government officials, heads of diplomatic missions, development partners, and private sector actors to consolidate dialogue, share policy direction, and co-create pathways for deeper diaspora engagement in Uganda’s growth agenda.
Welcoming participants, Amb. Johnny Muthahi Muhindo, Head of the Diaspora Department at MoFA, described the Convention as a maturing platform anchored in partnership, ownership, and results. He emphasised that members of the diaspora are no longer considered ad-hoc contributors to Uganda’s story, but are strategic partners in shaping shared prosperity. He also highlighted ongoing benchmarking with countries such as India, Ethiopia, and Kenya, alongside comprehensive skills mapping initiatives, aimed at aligning diaspora expertise with Uganda’s development priorities. A draft Diaspora Policy, now at an advanced stage, has been widely circulated to ensure inclusivity, responsiveness, and long-term impact.
Representing the Permanent Secretary/Secretary to the Treasury, Mr. Joseph Enyimu, underscored the government’s evolving policy outlook, which positions the diaspora as investors, market connectors, skill carriers, and trusted ambassadors of Uganda’s economic brand. He noted that Uganda’s merchandise exports surpassed USD 10 billion by June 2025, rising to USD 11 billion when services are included, while acknowledging the urgent need to transition from commodity-based exports to value-added, technology-driven, and knowledge-intensive production. He reaffirmed Uganda’s strong macroeconomic fundamentals, resilient currency, expanding infrastructure, and preferential market access under EAC, COMESA, and AfCFTA, positioning the country as a gateway economy to the region and the continent.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, emphasised that protecting and promoting the interests of Ugandans abroad remains at the core of Uganda’s foreign policy. Uganda’s missions are being strengthened to function as coordinated economic delivery points while remaining responsive to citizen welfare, emergency support, and service delivery, he noted. The PS further recognised the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in advancing structured diaspora engagement and announced plans to institutionalise a global celebration of the Ugandan diaspora beginning next year.
Officially opening the Convention, the Honorable Ruth Nankabirwa, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, commended the diaspora for its sustained contributions to Uganda’s socio-economic transformation. She outlined key national reforms, including the rationalization of government agencies, expansion of energy infrastructure, and strengthening of public financial management, which have redirected resources toward priority sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. Highlighting progress in the energy, oil and gas, agro-industrialization, tourism, and science and innovation sectors, the Minister reaffirmed Uganda’s readiness for scalable investment and industrial growth, anchored in stability, reform, and long-term planning.
The 2nd Uganda Diaspora Convention 2025 reaffirmed that Uganda’s diplomacy is people-centered, economically driven, and globally engaged. The government is committed to finalising a dynamic Diaspora Policy, professionalizing economic diplomacy across missions, and strengthening institutional frameworks that support diaspora investment, skills transfer, and market access.
He emphasised that members of the diaspora are no longer considered ad-hoc contributors to Uganda’s story, but are strategic partners in shaping shared prosperity.
