President Museveni has urged Ugandans living abroad to formally register with government structures through their respective associations, saying the move will enable better planning, deeper engagement, and stronger ties between the state and its diaspora community.
The President made the appeal on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, while meeting National Resistance Movement (NRM) members from over 20 countries at State Lodge, Nakasero. Many of the delegates had travelled to Kampala for the recently concluded NRM Delegates Conference.
“What is crucial now is to know the Ugandans, name by name, country by country, so that we know how to plan for them. Do you agree with that?” Museveni asked, receiving a resounding “yes” from the audience.
The Head of State emphasized that the initiative is non-partisan, noting that it would cover all Ugandans abroad regardless of political affiliation. He said the registration exercise would help establish accurate data on the diaspora, often estimated at four million people, and enable government to design effective support and investment frameworks.
“You may be saying we are talking of four million, but when they are not there. They may be less or more,” Museveni observed.
The registration will be coordinated by NRM’s Director of External Affairs, Maj. (Rtd) Awich Pollar, working alongside State House staff led by Ms. Barbra Barungi. They will collaborate with Ugandan community leaders abroad to ensure an inclusive and transparent process.
To strengthen diaspora participation in national development, Museveni also announced the creation of a special desk within the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA). He said a deputy director representing the diaspora would be appointed to streamline investment engagement.
“This way, when you come, you go to him directly without going through other people,” Museveni pledged.
Countries represented at the meeting included the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, South Africa, China, Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt, among others.
Maj. (Rtd) Pollar highlighted that Article 25 of the NRM Constitution provides for the establishment of party branches abroad, giving them the same status as districts within Uganda. He noted that such branches could further form smaller cells in cities like Boston or Washington.
President Museveni acknowledged that past attempts to organize the diaspora had lacked clarity but said the government is now determined to create well-defined structures to harness the full potential of Ugandans abroad.
