President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has challenged Ugandans recently repatriated from South Africa to abandon the belief that prosperity can only be found abroad, urging them instead to embrace the abundant economic opportunities available in Uganda.
Speaking during the pass-out ceremony of 1,030 Ugandan returnees at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi today, the President said Uganda possesses all the ingredients necessary for wealth creation and that many young people are unnecessarily risking their lives in search of opportunities overseas.
The returnees have spent 15 days at the institute 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 targeted foreign African nationals.
“I welcome you from danger, and I thank God that you have returned safely,” President Museveni told the gathering. “I also condole with the families who lost their loved ones during the attacks.”
Using the Luganda proverb “Nantabuuliririrwa yasaabala gwa bbumba,” the president questioned why many Ugandans continue leaving a resource-rich country in pursuit of uncertain opportunities abroad.
“Why would Ugandans leave such a beautiful country to go roaming around looking for jobs elsewhere?” he asked.
President Museveni emphasized that Uganda’s economy offers opportunities in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services, artisan work, and the rapidly growing digital economy.
To illustrate his point, he highlighted several success stories of ordinary Ugandans who have transformed modest investments into thriving enterprises.
Among them was Richard Nyakana of Rwengaju Village in Fort Portal, whose intensive farming on just 1.2 acres reportedly earns more than Shs200 million annually through zero-grazing dairy farming and poultry production while employing between 12 and 15 workers.
“If all Uganda’s 40 million acres of arable land were utilized as efficiently as Nyakana’s farm, the country could create about 150 million jobs,” President Museveni said.
The president also cited Johnson Basangwa of Kamuli District, whose commercial poultry enterprise keeps approximately 110,000 birds and reportedly earns nearly Shs20 million every day from egg sales alone.
Another example was Vicky Apio of Lira District, who transformed Shs907,000 received under the Parish Development Model (PDM) into a successful farming enterprise.
According to President Museveni, Apio rented three acres of land, planted maize, harvested 45 bags, expanded into livestock farming, and eventually purchased her own land.
“I feel pity for many of you because some people deceive you with promises of jobs abroad, yet they are misleading you,” the President said.
He argued that Uganda is increasingly producing many of the goods it once imported, including vehicles, and that the country’s future lies in value addition, industrialization, and modern agriculture.
President Museveni also revealed that he had personally engaged South African President Cyril Ramaphosa over the attacks against African migrants.
“I told President Ramaphosa that what is happening is dangerous for Africa,” President Museveni said.
He noted that H.E Ramaphosa had explained that those behind the attacks were enemies of South Africa’s governing African National Congress (ANC).
“I urged him to deal decisively with xenophobia because welcoming fellow Africans is the right thing to do. If countries begin retaliating against one another, it will be dangerous for the entire continent.”
The President appealed for calm, cautioning Ugandans against directing anger toward South Africans living or investing in Uganda.
Financial support for a fresh start:
To facilitate the returnees’ reintegration, President Museveni announced Shs2 billion in financial support for the group in addition to Shs2 million for each household head to cover transportation back to their home districts.
He encouraged beneficiaries to combine the support with existing government wealth creation programs, including the Parish Development Model, Emyooga, and other livelihood initiatives.
The President also asked the returnees to honestly document property and businesses they lost during the violence in South Africa so that the government could assess possible interventions.
The Prime Minister,Rt. Hon. Robinah Nabbanja described the evacuation as one of the government’s largest humanitarian interventions involving Ugandan citizens abroad.
She confirmed that Uganda Airlines repatriated all 1,030 citizens free of charge.
“The government remains committed to protecting Ugandans wherever they may be,” Rt. Hon.Nabbanja said.
She disclosed that another 525 Ugandans currently stranded in Cambodia have also appealed for government assistance to return home.
Rt. Hon. Nabbanja commended the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps, NALI, and all government agencies that supported the rehabilitation program.
The Acting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajji Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo, said Uganda had initiated diplomatic engagement with the South African government to establish the full extent of the destruction suffered by Ugandan businesses.
He confirmed that three Ugandans lost their lives during the attacks.
“I appreciate Your Excellency for the condolence contribution of Shs 10 million to each of the bereaved families,” Hon. Kasolo said.
He added that the Ugandan High Commission in Pretoria had already registered over 600 Ugandans remaining in South Africa.
Hon. Kasolo also appealed for tighter regulation of labour externalization agencies, arguing that many Ugandans facing exploitation abroad had left through labour recruitment companies.
The Commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps, Ms. Hellen Seku, described the rehabilitation program as more than ideological training, saying it was designed to restore hope, confidence, and patriotism among traumatised citizens.
She reported that NALI received 738 adults and 292 children, making a total of 1,030 returnees.
During the program, four adults and six children required specialised medical attention and were referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital.
Recognising the unusually high number of children, organizers established a temporary nursery school within the training facility to care for over 290 children while their parents attended lectures.
“These people arrived traumatized,” Ms. Seku said. “The peaceful environment at NALI allowed them to reflect, heal, and begin planning productive lives back home.”
She praised the instructors who adapted to caring for young children and pregnant mothers throughout the training.
Government agencies also used the rehabilitation program to provide essential public services.
Following consultations with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA), mobile registration teams were deployed to the camp.
As a result, 650 adults received National Identity Cards while 239 children were issued National Identification Numbers (NINs).
Several participants also renewed driving permits, while others registered businesses through the Uganda Registration Services Bureau.
The Ministry of Health conducted comprehensive medical screening and treatment, while facilitators from various ministries delivered lectures on patriotism, leadership, wealth creation, agriculture, health, security, responsible social media use, and government development programs.
The Director of NALI, Col. Okei Rukogota, attributed the program’s success to strong collaboration between the State House, the Office of the Prime Minister, the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps, and several government ministries and agencies.
He thanked President Museveni, Prime Minister Nabbanja, and Chief of Defence Forces Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba for supporting the initiative.
“NALI remains committed to supporting Your Excellency’s vision of building patriotic, productive, and resilient citizens,” he said.
Returnees pledge to rebuild Uganda:
Speaking on behalf of the returnees, Mr. Felix Mugabi expressed gratitude to the government for rescuing them from South Africa and providing rehabilitation.
He said the program had fundamentally transformed their understanding of patriotism, leadership, and the opportunities available within Uganda.
“Many of us left believing success could only be found abroad,” Mr. Mugabi said.
“Today, we have discovered that Uganda offers enormous opportunities if we embrace hard work and government programs.”
He noted that despite losing businesses, employment, and property during the attacks, the returnees were determined to rebuild their lives through agriculture, manufacturing, vocational skills, and entrepreneurship.
Mr. Mugabi said many among them possessed valuable technical skills in automotive engineering, construction, carpentry, tailoring, metal fabrication, leather works, information technology, and real estate.
He appealed for financial support to enable them to invest productively and requested government assistance in establishing a national association of returnees to coordinate development initiatives and access government programs.
The Kyankwanzi ceremony marked the culmination of two weeks of rehabilitation for citizens who had experienced trauma, displacement, and uncertainty.
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