By: Boy Fidel Leon
A tree draws life from its roots, and in much the same way, Uganda draws strength from its people abroad. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni sees the diaspora as a source of nourishment and stability, vital to the nation’s future.
To truly benefit from this bond, he argues, the government must know its citizens by name and number, treating them not as scattered branches but as part of the living core of the country.
On September 2, 2025, the President met a delegation of National Resistance Movement (NRM) members from more than 20 countries at State Lodge, Nakasero, where he appealed to Ugandans living abroad to formally register through their associations.
He said the exercise would help government strengthen ties with the diaspora, ensure accurate data, and unlock new opportunities for engagement.
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?” the President asked, drawing a resounding “yes” from the crowd.
While official figures often put the Ugandan diaspora at around four million, Museveni noted that the actual number may be lower or higher. He emphasised that comprehensive registration would not only provide clarity but also enable more effective planning, regardless of political affiliation.
We need to know all the diaspora, whether they are NRM or not. Then the NRM people will have their own leadership elected by themselves, and even the other bigger diaspora, if they want, can have their own structures,” he said.
The President acknowledged that past efforts to organise Ugandans abroad had been “not very clear” but said the government was determined to streamline the process moving forward.
Museveni directed Maj. (Rtd) Awich Pollar, NRM’s Director of External Affairs, together with Ms. Barbra Barungi from State House, to oversee the registration drive. The team will work closely with Ugandan community leaders in each country to ensure transparency and inclusivity.
You must work with the people on the ground, country by country, so that you can register Ugandans who want to be registered. The diaspora is not only NRM. There is a diaspora who are not NRM, but these are Ugandans,” he said.
In a move welcomed by delegates, Museveni pledged to create a dedicated position within the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) for the diaspora.
I will appoint one of you once you recommend him or her as a deputy director of the Uganda Investment Authority. So that when you come, you go to him directly without going through other people,” he assured.
This development would make the diaspora a direct constituency in Uganda’s investment landscape, giving them a channel to push forward business opportunities and partnerships.
Maj. (Rtd) Pollar explained that Article 25 of the NRM Constitution allows 20 or more Ugandans in any foreign country to form a branch, granting it the same status as an NRM district back home. Some countries have already established multiple “cells” in different cities.
“NRM UK, for instance, is equivalent to NRM Mbarara, Hoima, or Soroti district,” he said. Twenty active diaspora branches were represented at the recent Delegates Conference, qualifying to attend the National Executive Committee and national conference.
Delegates from countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Egypt, South Africa, China, Qatar, Turkey, and Sudan welcomed the President’s initiative.
Speaking on their behalf, Philip Kakuru thanked Museveni for his commitment to engaging with Ugandans abroad.
“We in the diaspora feel honoured that when we mention your name, they salute all of us courtesy of your great work on Pan-Africanism,” Kakuru said, pledging that the diaspora would play an active role in nation-building through investment, advocacy, and community development initiatives.
Uganda’s diaspora sends home significant remittances each year, but beyond financial flows, Museveni’s plan signals a shift towards integrating them into national structures.
By formally registering Ugandans abroad and offering them representation in key institutions, the government hopes to turn a loosely connected community into an organised constituency with direct influence on development.