Uganda’s annual diaspora remittances have now surpassed the Shs6.5 trillion mark, the Senior Presidential Adviser on Diaspora Affairs , Mr Muhammad Bagonza, has revealed.
Mr Bagonza, who is also the head of the Diaspora Unit in State House, made the remarks last week during the 2025 Uganda-Qatar Diaspora Convention, hosted by the Ugandan Embassy in Qatar capital Doha, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The convention brought together more than 400 Ugandan migrant workers, diaspora leaders, government officials and private sector partners. It followed a three-day programme aimed at building the capacity of embassy staff and diaspora community leaders-strengthening their approaches to migrant welfare, service delivery and community coordination.
‘Ugandans in the Gulf region contribute between 38 percent (Shs2.24 trillion) and 40 percent (Shs2.6 trillion) of that total (Shs6.5 trillion),’ Mr Bagonza was quoted as saying while delivering national updates.
The Gulf region comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, Iraq and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). His remarks were reinforced by Mr Patrick Batenze of Liberation Community Finance, who spoke about safe and credible investment pathways available in Uganda.
The convention was also addressed by Dr Julius Buaruhanga of the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), who outlined micro and small enterprise opportunities that Ugandans in the diaspora can invest in to support both personal income growth and national economic development.
Capacity-building workshops led by Ms Victoria Nabiteeko of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), Kampala, equipped embassy staff and diaspora leaders with practical skills in migrant welfare support and ethical community management.
Attendees The convention, co-led by Mr Bagonza and Ms Desree Barlow, the presidential assistant and head of the Research Desk in the Office of the President, drew a wide cross-section of Ugandans living and working in Qatar.
Dr Mohammed Baswari Kezaala, the deputy head of mission, applauded the strong unity demonstrated by Ugandans in supporting the national Under-17 football team at the Fifa World Cup.
He also noted growing bilateral cooperation, marked by the opening of Qatar’s Embassy in Kampala, which he described as a milestone made possible through the goodwill of His Highness the Emir of Qatar.