A Ugandan delegation met with officials from the Ministry of External Affairs of India in charge of the Diaspora Engagement Division on Tuesday, March 18.
The multi-sectoral delegation led by Ambassador Johnny Muhindo, the Head of the Diaspora Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and Mohammed Bagonza, the Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs and Head of the State House Diaspora Unit, is in India for a benchmarking and consultative visit on diaspora matters and diaspora policy formulation.
The delegation members include representatives from MOFA, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, and the Ugandan embassy in India.
India has one of the largest and most diverse diaspora populations globally, with over 35.4 million people. In 2023, remittances from the Indian diaspora exceeded $125 billion. Indians in the diaspora are categorised into three groups: Non-Resident Indians (NRIS), Person of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizen of India (OCIs).
During the engagement, Ugandan officials were briefed on the history, initiatives, and programs of India’s Diaspora Engagement Division, including policies aimed at strengthening connections between India and its diaspora.
From this engagement, the Ugandan delegation seeks to adopt best practices to enhance diaspora participation in the social and economic transformation of Uganda.
With an estimated population of over two million people, the Ugandan diaspora contributes around 5.5 trillion Ugandan shillings in remittances, which accounts for 3% of Uganda’s GDP. This group has the potential to significantly boost the country’s socio-economic development.