KAMPALA – In a move aimed at improving national planning and engagement with its overseas citizens, President Yoweri Museveni has announced a mandatory registration exercise for all Ugandans living abroad. The President has assembled a high-level team to lead this ambitious initiative.
President Museveni stated that the registration is essential for the government to effectively plan for and account for all its citizens, regardless of their location. “This will help my government to plan for everyone, even if they are abroad,” he emphasized, framing the exercise as a tool for inclusive national development.
To spearhead the effort, the President has appointed two key officials:
· Maj. (Ret.) Awich Pollar, the director for external affairs at the National Resistance Movement (NRM) Secretariat.
· Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, the senior presidential advisor on diaspora affairs.
The duo has been tasked with coordinating the comprehensive registration drive across the global Ugandan diaspora. A central tenet of the directive is that the exercise must include all Ugandans living overseas, irrespective of their political affiliation.
The government’s announcement positions the registration as a logistical and administrative measure to better understand the demographics, professional skills, and potential of the diaspora community for national projects. However, the move to make registration mandatory and the involvement of a party official are likely to be closely watched by diaspora groups and commentators. The specific mechanisms, data collection methods, and implications for those who do not register have not yet been detailed.
