Uganda has called on its diaspora in South Korea to invest their capital, skills and technology back home as the government seeks to deepen trade and investment ties with the Asian country.
The appeal was made on Saturday at a diaspora outreach in Seoul hosted by Uganda’s embassy in Tokyo, which is accredited to South Korea, ahead of the Uganda-Korea Trade and Investment Meeting scheduled for September 6 to 10.
The meeting, organised in partnership with the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), is expected to bring together government officials, businesses and other stakeholders to explore opportunities for increased trade and investment between the two countries.
At the Seoul engagement, Uganda’s Ambassador to South Korea, resident in Tokyo, Tophace Kaahwa, described Ugandans living abroad as “grassroots ambassadors” and urged them to support the country’s economic and commercial diplomacy through investment, technology transfer, tourism and skills development.
Amb Kaahwa said the diaspora’s remittances and expertise were central to Uganda’s economic growth.
She identified tourism, mineral development, science and technology, and agribusiness among the sectors where Ugandans in South Korea could invest.
Amb Kaahwa also encouraged the diaspora to register for national identification cards and assured them that the embassy remained available to provide consular and other services despite being based in Tokyo.
The Second Deputy Prime Minister and head of the Ugandan delegation, Dr Crispus Kiyonga, told the gathering that Uganda’s economy was now worth about $70 billion and that the government was targeting an economy of $500 billion by 2040.
Dr Kiyonga, who conveyed President Museveni’s greetings to the diaspora, urged Ugandans in South Korea to remain proud ambassadors of their country and maintain unity.
He said the government had invested heavily in road infrastructure to facilitate movement and economic activity, while the railway was being extended from Nairobi to Kampala.
The minister also highlighted Uganda’s security and stability as factors that should encourage investment in the country.
Ambassador Muhindo said the government was developing a comprehensive diaspora policy to improve coordination, communication and access to government services for Ugandans living abroad.
He said previous consultations had shown that the diaspora was “scattered and fragmented”, adding that consultations, largely completed in North America and Europe, were now being extended to Asia and other regions.
Amb Muhindo urged Ugandans in South Korea to attend the Uganda Diaspora Convention scheduled for December 18 to 22, 2026, and to share the knowledge and technology acquired abroad through mentorship and other initiatives.
He said the convention, first held in 2024, had helped encourage Ugandans living abroad to return home and contribute to national development.
Ambassador Henry Mayega, representing the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, said Ugandans abroad were important partners in the country’s industrialisation drive through remittances, investment and expertise.
He said the diaspora could play a bigger role in advancing the government’s priority sectors of agro-industrialisation, tourism, mineral development, and science, technology and innovation.
The Honorary Consul of Uganda in Busan, Dr Kim Jin Bo, praised the growing friendship between Uganda and South Korea and urged Ugandans to use the skills and experience acquired in the country to support development back home.
The President of the Ugandans in South Korea Association, Hamza Kyamanywa, said there were 654 Ugandans living in South Korea as of July 31, comprising 407 men and 247 women.
He said many of them were students, employees and entrepreneurs and remained closely connected to Uganda.
Mr Kyamanywa, who said he had lived in South Korea for eight years, said the association was working to build a united and vibrant Ugandan community.
During an open session, participants raised concerns about professional growth, sports and the welfare of Ugandans married to Korean nationals.
Some participants also raised concerns about the absence of a resident Ugandan embassy in South Korea, noting that consular services are currently provided from Tokyo.
The outreach formed part of several diaspora and business engagements ahead of the Uganda-Korea Trade and Investment Meeting, which opens on Sunday.