Uganda has convened members of its diaspora community in Ethiopia for a two-day engagement aimed at strengthening their contribution to national development through investment, trade, skills transfer and partnerships.
The event, held at the Hilton Addis Ababa under the theme “Connecting, Celebrating and Contributing: Harnessing the Ugandan Diaspora for National Development,” sought to strengthen ties between Ugandans living in Ethiopia and the country’s development priorities while showcasing Uganda’s culture, investment opportunities and talent.
The Ugandan community in Ethiopia comprises professionals, students, businesspeople, families, researchers and employees of regional and international organisations. Ethiopia’s position as the headquarters of the African Union and a hub for numerous non-governmental organisations provides opportunities for professional networking, knowledge exchange and cross-border business partnerships.
Speaking at a dinner hosted by the Uganda Embassy, Uganda’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Rebecca Amuge Otengo, welcomed the guests and conveyed President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s best wishes.
Otengo said Ugandans living in Ethiopia played an important role in shaping the country’s image through their professional work, businesses, studies and everyday interactions. She also highlighted their contribution to the longstanding relationship between Uganda and Ethiopia.
She encouraged members of the diaspora to uphold integrity, respect the laws and customs of their host country, and contribute positively to the communities in which they live and work.
“As we pursue opportunities abroad, let us never forget home. Our families, communities and country remain an important part of who we are. I encourage you to maintain close contact with your families, remain informed about developments in Uganda and, whenever circumstances permit, visit home and explore opportunities to contribute to our national development,” Otengo said.
She emphasised that national development was a shared responsibility, urging Ugandans abroad to use their professional expertise, ideas, investments and businesses to support the country’s transformation.
“The development of our country is a shared responsibility. Each of us has something to contribute, whether through professional expertise, new ideas, investment, enterprise or support to our families and communities. Let us turn our presence in Ethiopia into an opportunity to deepen Uganda–Ethiopia relations, promote shared prosperity and contribute to Uganda’s transformation,” she said.
Wondafrash Debere Tolera, who represented Zerihun Abebe, Director-General for African Affairs at Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended Ugandans living in Ethiopia for their conduct and contribution to development.
Tolera emphasised the importance of people-to-people relations in strengthening ties between the two countries.
He also pointed to the growing Ethiopian community in Kampala’s Muyenga, Kansanga and Buziga neighbourhoods, which has earned the informal nickname “Little Ethiopia”.
He said Ethiopia hoped that the positive reception extended to Ethiopians living in Uganda would translate into stronger commercial and business relations between the two countries.
The Head of the Diaspora Services Department at Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Johnnie Muhindo, said the gathering demonstrated how Ugandans abroad could contribute to national development through investment, trade, skills transfer and partnerships with government and the private sector.
Muhindo said diaspora mobilisation was a key component of Uganda’s economic and commercial diplomacy strategy, which seeks to harness the expertise, networks and resources of Ugandans living abroad to support socio-economic transformation.
He added that the government was in the final stages of drafting the National Diaspora Policy, which had undergone consultations with Ugandan diaspora communities around the world.
The proposed policy is expected to provide a framework for strengthening engagement between the government and Ugandans abroad, including those interested in investing in the country or contributing their expertise remotely.
Participants heard presentations from government officials, business leaders and diaspora representatives, who shared success stories and discussed practical ways to strengthen collaboration between Ugandans abroad and institutions at home.
The gathering also provided updates on policies and frameworks supporting diaspora engagement, including opportunities for Ugandans wishing to return home or contribute to national development from abroad.
Ugandans who had registered for national identity cards in May 2026 received their new National IDs during the event.
Representatives from the National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) also attended, providing information on services and opportunities available to Ugandans living abroad.
The embassy announced that NIRA registration services and NSSF advisory services would be available on October 15 at the Uganda Embassy Chancery Building in the Gerji suburb of Bole, Addis Ababa.
The two-day engagement brought together Ugandan professionals, students, businesspeople, researchers and families living in Ethiopia, alongside government representatives and service providers.
Through the initiative, Uganda seeks to strengthen diaspora participation in national development, promote investment and trade, showcase its cultural and economic potential, and deepen bilateral relations with Ethiopia.