The engagement organized by the Ugandan High Commission in New Delhi, led by Prof. Joyce Kakuramatsi Kikafunda, involved Ugandan students at Indian universities and other Ugandans living and working in India.
The delegation heard about the challenges Ugandans face in India, such as the human trafficking of young girls and difficulties in sending money back home because of complications in opening bank accounts.
The Ugandan community in India requested government support to assist in repatriating Ugandans who have overstayed their visas but cannot afford to pay the fines, putting them at risk of facing jail sentences.

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.