MOMBASA, Kenya – Uganda’s Diplomat, Dickson Ogwang Okul, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Headquarters, has underscored the urgent need for constitutional and legislative reforms to formalize the country’s engagement with its citizens abroad. This follows high-level discussions with senior colleague Amb. Col. (Rtd.) Fred Mwesigye on the sidelines of a premier regional investment forum.
The two envoys met at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa in Mombasa during the high-level Diaspora Investment Workshop: Unlocking Corridor Investment Opportunities. Jointly sponsored by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the workshop, running 22 - 24 June 2026 brought together over 100 participants, representing about 30 African countries alongside a network of International and Regional Agencies.
Their deliberations focused heavily on the key issues dominating the workshop sessions: establishing actionable regional frameworks, eliminating structural bottlenecks for cross-border investments, and the critical steps required at the highest political level to institute a comprehensive National Diaspora Policy.
During the sessions, Ambassador Ogwang Okul warmly appreciated the presentation by Prof. Dr. Otieno Ong'ayo (Antony) of the United International University of Africa. In his presentation, Prof. Ong'ayo noted that Uganda stands at a historic vantage point, with immediate takeaway opportunities that could serve as cornerstone legacy reforms for President Yoweri Museveni’s Diaspora Policy.
Prof. Ong'ayo, responding to Dickson Ogwang's engagements highlighted President Museveni's progressive and long-standing support for the global Ugandan community, pointing to his consistent invitations for the diaspora to return home and actively participate in national transformation through strategic investment and "brain gain" initiatives. A premier example of this inclusive approach, discussed at the workshop, is the recent appointment of dual-citizenship diaspora returnees—such as Hon. Echodu—who have been fully embraced and integrated into high-level national development leadership.
Ambassador Ogwang Okul emphasized that while these executive actions demonstrate immense political goodwill, the current legal framework still lacks the structural incentives needed to fully institutionalize and scale the economic, social, and political capital of Ugandans living overseas. The proposed policy reforms aim to codify these presidential initiatives into law, moving beyond traditional remittance tracking to create a robust, secure corridor for direct diaspora investments, public-private partnerships, and structured regional trade.
"We are committed to accelerating high-level national and regional engagements to ensure that our diaspora is not just a spectator but a key driver of Uganda’s and the wider COMESA region’s transformation," Amb. Ogwang Okul stated. "This requires deliberate legal reforms, and we are working to build the necessary political consensus."
Amb. Col. (Rtd.) Fred Mwesigye, who serves as Uganda’s High Commissioner to Dar es Salaam, echoed the sentiment. He noted that the specific corridor-based frameworks provided by COMESA offer a valuable blueprint for safely integrating diaspora contributions into national development plans while mitigating cross-border investment risks. The two diplomats reaffirmed their dedication to pushing these reforms forward through continued advocacy and strategic partnerships with international organizations like the IOM.
By translating political goodwill into permanent legal protections and formal investment pathways, the Mombasa workshop serves as a critical springboard for drafting actionable strategies to leverage diaspora resources for sustainable development across the African continent.
