More than 1,000 Ugandans and regional guests gathered in Melbourne for a three-day programme combining cultural celebrations, business networking and discussions on investment, trade and skills transfer between Uganda and Australia.
Uganda’s 64th Independence celebrations in Melbourne brought together more than 1,000 Ugandans from across Australasia, alongside government representatives, traditional leaders, business executives and investors, for a three-day programme aimed at strengthening economic ties between Uganda and Australia.
Held from October 16 to 18, 2026, under the theme “Celebrating Heritage, Strengthening Partnerships, Unlocking Investment Opportunities”, the celebrations highlighted the role of the Ugandan diaspora in promoting trade, tourism, investment and cultural preservation.
Organised through the engagement of the Uganda High Commission in Canberra and the Ugandan community in Victoria, the programme combined cultural festivities with business-to-business networking and discussions on opportunities in agriculture, technology, tourism and enterprise development.
Representing President Museveni, Local Government minister Balaam Barugahara conveyed the President’s greetings and appreciation to Ugandans living abroad, urging them to remain connected to their homeland and contribute to its socioeconomic transformation.
“The diaspora is not simply a community living outside Uganda. It is a powerful network of professionals, entrepreneurs and investors who can connect our country to global markets, skills and opportunities,” Balaam said.
He called on Ugandans abroad to demonstrate patriotism through investments, business development and initiatives that create employment and empower young people.
“Patriotism must go beyond celebrating our flag and singing our national anthem. It must be reflected in the businesses we establish, the young people we empower, the investments we make and the opportunities we create for fellow Ugandans,” Balaam added.
Minister for the Presidency Milly Babalanda also attended the celebrations, emphasising the importance of leveraging the expertise, capital and international exposure of Ugandans abroad to support development at home.
“Uganda’s greatest resource is its people, wherever they live. When Ugandans abroad combine their expertise, capital and international exposure with opportunities at home, they become important partners in national development,” she said.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Australia, Dorothy Samali Hyuha, said the celebrations provided an opportunity to strengthen diplomatic relations and establish practical partnerships between Ugandan enterprises, diaspora investors and Australian businesses.
“Our mission is to ensure that the relationship between Uganda and Australasia delivers practical opportunities for our people. Cultural diplomacy brings us together, but trade, investment and institutional partnerships must help translate those relationships into shared prosperity,” Hyuha said.
She called for a shift from ceremonial engagements towards partnerships capable of generating investment, expanding markets and creating jobs.
“We want to see partnerships that move beyond introductions and ceremonial engagements. Our focus is on building credible business relationships that can generate investment, expand markets, create employment and strengthen cooperation between Uganda and Australasia,” she said.
The first day focused on business networking and investment opportunities, with discussions centred on strengthening commercial relationships and connecting Ugandan businesses to potential partners in Australia and the wider Australasian region.
Tourism, commercial agriculture, technology and enterprise development emerged as key areas for potential cooperation, with the diaspora viewed as an important link between Uganda’s investment opportunities and international markets.
The Independence Gala celebrated Uganda’s cultural diversity and national identity, with traditional leaders emphasising the importance of preserving heritage among Ugandans living abroad.
Princess Catherine Ssangalyambogo urged Ugandans in the diaspora to maintain their cultural roots while embracing opportunities in their countries of residence.
“We may live in different countries and speak different languages, but our cultural heritage remains an important part of who we are. Living abroad should never mean losing the values, traditions and identity that connect us to Uganda,” she said.
She also urged Ugandan parents living abroad to teach their children their languages, history and traditions, noting that cultural identity remained an important link between generations.
The Emorimor, Paramount Chief of Teso, echoed the call for cultural preservation, highlighting the role of traditional institutions in promoting unity, education and development.
He said cultural identity should complement national unity and encouraged Ugandans abroad to support their communities through mentorship, investment and initiatives that create opportunities for younger generations.
Dr Michael Muleme, president of the Ugandan community in Victoria, said the celebrations demonstrated the community’s enduring connection to Uganda despite the geographical distance.
He called for networks that extend beyond social gatherings by connecting professionals, entrepreneurs, students and families while strengthening commercial relationships with Uganda.
The programme also incorporated consular engagement, including discussions on passports and national identification, giving Ugandans an opportunity to engage with representatives of their country’s mission on services affecting citizens abroad.
The Melbourne celebrations came as diaspora engagement remained an avenue for strengthening economic relationships, mobilising investment and facilitating knowledge exchange between Uganda and international markets.
Beyond commemorating 64 years of independence, the gathering highlighted the potential for Ugandans abroad to contribute to national development through entrepreneurship, skills transfer, tourism promotion and cross-border business partnerships.
The central message was that the diaspora represents more than a community preserving its heritage abroad.
Through strategic partnerships and investment, Ugandans living overseas can help connect their country to international expertise, markets and opportunities for sustainable economic growth.