KAMPALA — President Yoweri Museveni has commissioned the Office of the Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs in his quest to promote Uganda’s international trade and tourism sectors.
Mr. Museveni during a meeting at State House Entebbe also tasked his advisor on Diaspora Affairs, Amb. Abbey Walusimbi to immediately traverse different countries with the aim of promoting trade and investment among potential investors as well as meeting Ugandan communities.
The president seeks to use Amb. Walusimbe’s expertise in diaspora affairs to attract more investors into the country.
He says the opportunities for investment in Uganda include grain milling for the manufacture of livestock feeds, food processing, textile manufacture, vehicle assembly and manufacture, and herbal pharmacy.
Amb. Walusimbi had led a delegation of investors who also included Rozina Negusei a wife to American-Senegalese music star, Akon.
Amb. Walusimbi told this website that his office will straightaway take on the assignment by the President and will commence with a three weeks tour across the different states in America.
“The President commissioned my office to move across the diaspora to attract and woo potential investors to come and take up investment in different sectors across the country,” Walusimbi noting that:
“Our first trip shall be to the USA visiting different states beginning with Chicago, Indiana, Minneapolis, California and Washington DC. We are working hand in hand with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in all countries that we shall go, we shall be moving with the resident Ambassadors.”
In the USA, Amb. Walusimbi with Head of diaspora investment promotion & trade Office of the President / PA diaspora Affairs Isaac Kigozi shall be working closely with the Ugandan Ambassador to US, Amb. Mull Katende.
He added that the President has asked him to meet with the different Ugandan Community leaders with the view of encouraging their communities to return home and take up several investments as well as availing to them the different programs and incentives that government has put up in their favour.
“My office is a direct link between the President and the Diasporas and it is national and non-partisan; I will as well use the visit to best understand the challenges faced by Ugandans leaving abroad with the aim of finding lasting solutions,” Walusimbi noted.
After US, Amb. Walusimbi and team are expected to traverse Middle East where they are expected to meet
Ugandan communities to best understand their challenges and find lasting solutions to the alleged labour exploitation cases.
In July 2020, Amb. Walusimbi assumed office as a Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs upon appointment by President Museveni whose office was tasked to among others encourage, pursuade and entice potential Foreign Investors to come into the country.
Eversince the appointment, Walusimbi has invited several investors into the country who are potentially taking up investment in the different sectors of the economy.
