By: Ismael Kasooha
LONDON
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja has appealed to Ugandans living and working in the United Kingdom and Europe in general to make investments back home in Uganda to contribute to the development of their country.
“On behalf of the Government of Uganda and on my own behalf, I commend all Ugandans living and working in the UK and Europe in general for your valuable contributions to Uganda’s growth and prosperity. The amount of money Ugandans living and working abroad send to Uganda annually is USD 1.4 billion. This is no mean contribution,” said Nabbanja.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja joins Ugandans in teh diaspora for a group photo after an engagement in London
She noted that the money sent home not only supported the families and local communities, but also boosted Uganda’s economy through, for example, buying land and building rental apartments, and setting up businesses.
Nabbanja assured Ugandans in the diaspora that the government had enacted a law to regulate and safeguard Ugandans working abroad.
“Because we value your contributions to Uganda’s development, in 2021, the Ugandan Parliament passed the Employment (Recruitment of Ugandan Migrant Workers) Regulations to uphold the dignity and rights of Ugandans working abroad and regulate the activities of recruitment agencies. We have signed Bilateral Labour Agreements with countries such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan, to safeguard the rights of Ugandan migrant workers,” she briefed the members.
Nabbanja made the remarks while meeting members of diaspora living and working in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe at Kia Oval, Surrey County Cricket Club Kennington in London.
Nabbanja said that Uganda was in the takeoff stage which should be taken seriously. She briefed the Ugandans in the Diaspora that the country had greatly changed because of peace and stability leading to steady growth and development.
“You have to credit President Yoweri Museveni who has worked tirelessly to make our country peaceful and stable for all these years. Uganda has been ranked as one of the best investment destinations in Africa because of peace and stability,” said Nabbanja.
A section of Ugandans in UK listening to the Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Nabbanja Robinah
Nabbanja appealed to Ugandans in the diaspora to support the NRM government because it had ushered in peace and stability in the country hence leading to socio-economic transformation.
Robert Mukiza, the Director General Uganda Investment Authority assured Ugandans in the diaspora that the government would accord them incentives so long as their investments met the threshold of US dollars 50,000.
“It is a government policy to give incentives to both Ugandans and foreign investors incentives as long as they meet the threshold. We treat all investors equally in terms of incentives so please come back home and invest,” said Mukiza.
Manoj Joshi, the President of Uganda-Europe United Kingdom Association (UEKA) said that Uganda was on the right track in development and promised to support government interventions for socio-economic transformation.
“We are proud of our country Uganda because the developments that are taking place show the right trend in transforming the Pearl of Africa. We shall continue supporting Uganda to achieve its objectives,” said Manoj.
Princess Mabel Komuntale who lives in the United Kingdom, on behalf of the people, thanked President Museveni for the peace and development in Uganda.
Komuntale promised that they would support President Museveni in the Presidential elections.
Prime Pinister Nabbanja had been in the UK to attract more investors to Uganda so that the country could attain its ambitious plan of the 10-fold development strategy by increasing Uganda’s GPD from 61bn US Dollars to 500bn US Dollars by 20240.
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