Museveni Calls on South Africa Returnees to Build Wealth at Home, Announces Shs2 Billion Support

President Museveni Encourages Returnees to Embrace Opportunities at Home

President Yoweri Museveni recently addressed a group of 1,030 Ugandans who had been repatriated from South Africa, urging them to abandon the belief that prosperity can only be found abroad. Speaking at the pass-out ceremony of these returnees at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, Museveni emphasized the importance of harnessing Uganda's economic opportunities as they rebuild their lives.

During the event, the President announced a Shs2 billion fund to support the reintegration of the returnees, along with Shs2 million for each household head to facilitate transport back to their home districts. The returnees had spent 15 days at NALI undergoing rehabilitation, counseling, and ideological orientation under a program coordinated by the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps (NSPC), following their evacuation from South Africa after violent xenophobic attacks targeting foreign African nationals.

"I welcome you from danger, and I thank God that you have returned safely," Museveni said. "I also condole with the families who lost their loved ones during the attacks."

Museveni invoked a Luganda proverb, questioning why many Ugandans continue to leave a resource-rich country in search of uncertain opportunities abroad. He highlighted the vast opportunities available in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, artisan work, and the digital economy, arguing that wealth creation is achievable through productive investment at home.

He cited the example of Richard Nyakana of Fort Portal, who earns more than Shs200 million annually from intensive dairy and poultry farming on 1.2 acres while employing between 12 and 15 workers. If all of Uganda’s 40 million acres of arable land were utilized as efficiently as Nyakana’s farm, the country could create about 150 million jobs, he said.

The President also highlighted Johnson Basangwa of Kamuli District, whose commercial poultry enterprise reportedly earns nearly Shs20 million daily from egg sales, and Vicky Apio of Lira District, who transformed Shs907,000 received under the Parish Development Model (PDM) into a successful farming business.

"I feel pity for many of you because some people deceive you with promises of jobs abroad, yet they are misleading you," Museveni said. He stressed that Uganda is increasingly producing goods it previously imported and emphasized that the country’s future lies in industrialization, value addition, and modern agriculture.

Museveni also revealed that he had raised the issue of the xenophobic attacks with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, warning that retaliation by African countries against one another would undermine continental unity. He urged Ugandans not to direct their anger at South Africans living or investing in Uganda.

To support the returnees’ fresh start, Museveni announced Shs2 billion for the group and encouraged beneficiaries to complement the assistance with existing government programs such as the Parish Development Model and Emyooga. He further directed the returnees to document businesses and property they lost during the attacks to enable the government to assess possible interventions.

Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja described the evacuation as one of Uganda’s largest humanitarian interventions involving citizens abroad. She noted that Uganda Airlines repatriated all 1,030 citizens free of charge and stated that the government remains committed to protecting Ugandans wherever they may be. She added that another 525 Ugandans stranded in Cambodia had appealed to the government for assistance to return home.

Acting State Minister for Foreign Affairs Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo said Uganda had initiated diplomatic engagement with South Africa to establish the extent of losses suffered by Ugandan businesses during the attacks. He confirmed that three Ugandans were killed in the violence and thanked Museveni for contributing Shs10 million to each bereaved family.

Kasolo said the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria had registered more than 600 Ugandans who remained in South Africa and called for tighter regulation of labor externalization agencies, arguing that many exploited Ugandans had traveled through recruitment companies.

National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps Commissioner Hellen Seku said the rehabilitation program was designed to restore hope, confidence, and patriotism among traumatized returnees. She noted that NALI received 738 adults and 292 children, with four adults and six children requiring specialized treatment and referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Given the high number of children, organizers established a temporary nursery school at the training center to care for more than 290 children while their parents attended lectures. "These people arrived traumatized. The peaceful environment at NALI allowed them to reflect, heal, and begin planning productive lives back home," Seku said.

She added that government agencies used the program to deliver essential public services, with mobile teams from the National Identification and Registration Authority issuing national identity cards to 650 adults and National Identification Numbers to 239 children. Participants also renewed driving permits, registered businesses through the Uganda Registration Services Bureau, and received medical screening, alongside training in patriotism, leadership, agriculture, wealth creation, health, security, and government development programs.

NALI Director Col. Okei Rukogota credited the program's success to collaboration between State House, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps, and other government agencies.

Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Felix Mugabi thanked the government for rescuing them and said the program had transformed their outlook. "Many of us left believing success could only be found abroad. Today, we have discovered that Uganda offers enormous opportunities if we embrace hard work and government programs," he said.

Mugabi said the group included skilled professionals in automotive engineering, construction, carpentry, tailoring, metal fabrication, leather works, information technology, and real estate, and appealed for financial support to help them rebuild their livelihoods.

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