Summary
Government says it is evaluating the Investment Policy in a bid to offer and improve incentives to Ugandans in the Diaspora to invest back home.
Senior presidential adviser on diaspora affairs Abbey Walusimbi has called on Ugandans in the diaspora to consider investing back home in the spirit of commitment to the country’s development efforts.
Mr Walusimbi, who was addressing stakeholders charged with supervising labour externalization in Kampala on Wednesday, said government is re-evaluating the Investment Policy in a bid to offer and improve incentives to Ugandans in the diaspora to invest back home.
He assured Ugandans of Government commitment in ensuring that there investments back home are protected and asked their representatives to raise any issues of concern so that they are addressed through the right channels to avoid suspicion and misleading information some of which he said has in the past been negative propaganda.
“I welcome all our diaspora to come home to do business, and use their innovation and selfless service towards the development of this economy that belongs to everyone,” Amb. Walusimbi said.
He said the labour export business in Uganda is booming more than ever before and that more countries, including US and Canada, have opened doors for Uganda’s labour force.
“Before 1986, most Ugandans went out of the country as refugees and others ran into exile while investors shunned our country and most employers abroad didn’t consider employing Ugandans. We are improving on our labour supply while mitigating the gaps that exist,” he said.
Mr Walusimbi revealed that the government is planning to open up more professional job opportunities abroad as part of addressing the high levels of unemployment among the youth.
He told the meeting that although there still exist some challenges in Uganda like unemployment among the youth, there are already visible achievements because Uganda is moving forward even in the face of global economics slow down.
On her part, Ms. Florence Nakiwala Kiyingi, the presidential adviser on gender and youth affairs, urged Ugandans in the diaspora to always engage in dialogue, saying undermining the Government back at home is counterproductive because it’s the systems to enable than travel and stay safely outside Uganda.
The meeting held at the Office of the President in Kampala was graced by Defence Minister Jacob Oboth-Oboth, Bank of Uganda officials, Foreign Affairs Ministry and Internal Affairs.