Museveni urges Ugandans abroad to return home

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans working abroad under “difficult conditions” to return home, as he received citizens recently repatriated from South Africa following anti-immigrant violence.

Museveni met the returnees in Kyankwanzi district, about 150 kilometres northwest of Kampala, on Sunday. “I encouraged them, especially the youth, to embrace commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and ICT, where the greatest opportunities lie,” he wrote on X.

The government will support their reintegration, including strengthening their SACCO, Museveni said. Parliamentary records show 1,102 Ugandans were identified for repatriation from South Africa in early July. At least 1,030 have since returned.

The returnees are undergoing a rehabilitation and ideological orientation programme at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi. The government says the programme has exceeded expectations, with many participants now viewing Uganda as the best place to invest their skills.

At least 20,000 Ugandans are living in South Africa illegally, according to Uganda’s Directorate of Immigration. More than two million Ugandans live abroad overall.

Museveni also expressed condolences to the families of three Ugandans who lost their lives in South Africa. “Uganda stood with South Africa during the struggle against apartheid, and we cannot accept the notion that fellow Africans are ‘xenos’ in Africa,” he said.

Several African countries, including Nigeria, Mozambique, Ghana and Malawi, have repatriated thousands of citizens from South Africa amid rising anti-immigrant sentiment.

SOURCE: Uganda State House