The team was received by Moses Kibombo, President of the Confederation of Ugandans in Southern Africa (COUSA).

The visit marks the beginning of a three-day Diaspora Engagement and Skills Mapping Programme in South Africa, conducted in collaboration with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The engagement seeks to strengthen coordination between Uganda’s High Commission in Pretoria and the Ugandan community in Southern Africa by equipping embassy staff and diaspora leaders with practical tools for skills mapping, policy awareness, and community mobilisation.

The exercise forms part of ongoing consultations for the National Diaspora Policy, which is being developed to streamline government–diaspora relations and create opportunities for Ugandans abroad to participate more actively in national development.
Speaking ahead of the training, Bagonza noted that the exercise will help government identify skilled Ugandans across sectors such as health, ICT, engineering, education, and trade, and explore ways to integrate their expertise into Uganda’s development agenda.

“Our goal is to ensure that every Ugandan abroad is visible, engaged, and empowered. By mapping out skills and building stronger networks, we are laying the foundation for a more connected and productive diaspora community,” Bagonza said.
The mission highlights the government’s commitment to making the diaspora a key partner in Uganda’s socio-economic transformation, in line with Vision 2040.