President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has urged Ugandans recently repatriated from South Africa to abandon the belief that prosperity can only be found abroad and instead take advantage of the economic opportunities available in Uganda.
The President made the remarks on Sunday during the pass-out ceremony of 1,030 Ugandan returnees at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
The returnees, who were evacuated from South Africa following violent xenophobic attacks against foreign African nationals, spent 15 days at NALI undergoing rehabilitation, counselling and ideological orientation under a programme coordinated by the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC).
“I welcome you from danger, and I thank God that you have returned safely. I also condole with the families who lost their loved ones during the attacks,” Museveni said.
Using the Luganda proverb, “Nantabuuliririrwa yasaabala gwa bbumba,” the President questioned why Ugandans continue leaving a resource-rich country in search of uncertain opportunities abroad.
Museveni said Uganda has vast opportunities in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, artisan work and the digital economy.
He cited several Ugandans who have built successful enterprises from modest investments, including Richard Nyakana of Fort Portal, who reportedly earns more than Shs200 million annually from intensive farming on 1.2 acres, and Johnson Basangwa of Kamuli, whose poultry enterprise keeps about 110,000 birds.
The President also cited Vicky Apio of Lira, who reportedly transformed Shs907,000 received under the Parish Development Model (PDM) into a successful farming enterprise.
“Why would Ugandans leave such a beautiful country to go roaming around looking for jobs elsewhere?” Museveni asked.
He said Uganda’s future lies in value addition, industrialisation and modern agriculture, adding that the country is increasingly producing goods that were previously imported.
Museveni also disclosed that he had engaged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the attacks on African migrants and urged Ugandans to remain calm and avoid retaliatory actions against South Africans living or investing in Uganda.
Shs2 billion support pledged
To support the returnees’ reintegration, President Museveni pledged Shs2 billion to the group and an additional Shs2 million for each household head to facilitate transport back to their home districts.
He encouraged the beneficiaries to combine the support with existing government programmes such as the Parish Development Model, Emyooga and other wealth creation initiatives.
The President also asked the returnees to document the businesses and property they lost during the violence in South Africa to enable the government to assess possible interventions.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described the evacuation as one of the largest humanitarian interventions involving Ugandan citizens abroad and confirmed that Uganda Airlines repatriated all 1,030 returnees free of charge.
She disclosed that another 525 Ugandans stranded in Cambodia had also appealed for government assistance to return home.
The Acting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajji Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, said Uganda had begun diplomatic engagements with the South African government to establish the extent of the losses suffered by Ugandan businesses.
He confirmed that three Ugandans died during the attacks and said the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria had registered more than 600 Ugandans still living in South Africa.
Kasolo also called for tighter regulation of labour recruitment agencies, saying many Ugandans facing exploitation abroad had travelled through such companies.
Returnees receive IDs and medical care
NSPC Commissioner Hellen Seku said the rehabilitation programme was designed to restore hope, confidence and patriotism among the traumatised returnees.
She said NALI received 738 adults and 292 children. Four adults and six children were referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for specialised medical care.
Because of the large number of children, a temporary nursery school was established at NALI to care for more than 290 children while their parents attended the programme.
Government agencies also provided essential services during the rehabilitation period. Mobile teams from the National Identification and Registration Authority issued National Identity Cards to 650 adults and National Identification Numbers to 239 children.
The returnees also accessed medical screening and treatment, renewed driving permits and registered businesses, while government officials delivered sessions on patriotism, leadership, wealth creation, agriculture, health, security and responsible use of social media.
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Felix Mugabi thanked the government for rescuing and rehabilitating them, saying the programme had changed their perception of Uganda’s potential.
“Many of us left believing success could only be found abroad. Today, we have discovered that Uganda offers enormous opportunities if we embrace hard work and government programmes,” Mugabi said.
He said the returnees were determined to rebuild their lives through agriculture, manufacturing, vocational skills and entrepreneurship.
The returnees also appealed for financial support and assistance in forming a national association to coordinate their development initiatives and access government programmes.
The Kyankwanzi ceremony marked the end of a two-week rehabilitation programme for Ugandan citizens who had experienced trauma, displacement and uncertainty following the violence in South Africa.
