Delivering a keynote presentation titled “The Role of the Uganda Diaspora in the Socio-Economic Transformation of Uganda” during a capacity-building workshop in Pretoria, Mr. Bagonza underscored the immense potential of Uganda’s diaspora as a vital pillar in the country’s growth journey. “Our missions are the frontlines of diaspora diplomacy. When they engage, support, and empower Ugandans abroad, they not only serve our citizens but also extend Uganda's influence, reputation, and development footprint across the world,” Bagonza noted.

He highlighted that President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni established the State House Diaspora Unit in 2023 to bridge the gap between Uganda and her citizens abroad, making every Ugandan in the diaspora visible, engaged, and empowered. In his presentation, the Senior Presidential Advisor talked about the importance of remittances to the country’s socio-economic development, revealing that remittances had reached USD 1.4 billion in 2024, accounting for 3.4% of Uganda’s GDP, and making them the third-largest source of foreign exchange after gold and coffee exports.

He added that remittances benefit over 900,000 households, supporting education, healthcare, and housing, while fostering human capital development. Despite this progress, he noted persistent challenges such as high transfer costs—averaging 15%, well above the UN Sustainable Development Goal target of 3%—and the dominance of informal transfer channels.

Strengthening the Role of Missions

Bagonza called on embassies and honorary consulates to actively map and mobilize diaspora communities, facilitate investment, and promote Uganda’s brand abroad.

He urged missions to organize regular diaspora conventions, document success stories, and collaborate closely with State House, MDAs, IOM, and other stakeholders to deepen diaspora inclusion in national development.

“Through structured coordination, dialogue, and empowerment, we are building a new paradigm of nation-building, one where every Ugandan in the diaspora is a stakeholder in the country’s future,” he said.

The three-day workshop, hosted by the Uganda High Commission in Pretoria, brought together heads of mission, honorary consuls, and representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State House, and other agencies to strengthen Uganda’s capacity for diaspora engagement across Southern Africa.