On the sidelines of the forum, Mr Bagonza, his deputy, @HenryWabyona , and a team of diaspora stakeholders from various African countries visited various diaspora establishments in Ethiopia.
One such establishment was the American Medical Centre (AMC), which was founded by Dr Akeza Teame and his wife, Mrs Melat Abate, in 2012. Dr Teame is an Ethiopian-American physician trained in the United States.
The meeting was attended by Mr Peter Gishuru, a Kenyan and President/CEO of the African Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest, Mr Benjamin Omara, a Ugandan and Chairman of the African Chamber of Commerce; and Mr John Agaba, a Ugandan and Board Member of the African Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Pacific Northwest Uganda American Association.

After completing his education and training in the United States, where he lived for 20 years, he returned home to address the growing demand for high-end, patient-centred medical services.

AMC has since earned its reputation as a multi-speciality centre of excellence, providing care in a welcoming and serene environment.

Dr Teame has significantly impacted healthcare in Ethiopia. Apart from the American Medical Centre, he has founded major institutions such as Samaritan Surgical Centre, Axon Stroke and Spine Centre, Caduceus Pharmaceuticals Plc and the digital health platform HabariDOC.

They offer specialised services that one might typically seek from other countries, including Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Cardiology, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics/Gynaecology, and Psychiatry, supported by advanced diagnostics such as CT scans, digital X-rays, and endoscopy.

Mr Bagonza says this story reflects a broader vision that diaspora communities can go beyond remittances to build institutions, transfer skills, and transform economies.

Such diaspora success stories are inspiring and should encourage more diaspora members to return home and invest in sectors that benefit their country. #UgandaDiaspora