New Cabinet! Intelligence Tells Gen. Museveni To Create Diaspora Ministry To Operationalize The ‘Sovereignty Law’

President Museveni is weighing between creating a full-fledged Ministry for Diaspora affairs or elevate the current Diaspora desk within the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to a Presidential Diaspora Commission.

This news site understands that, the President is being requested to either create this ministry upon passing the Sovereignty Bill into law by parliament. Museveni last week came out and disowned the Sovereignty Bill which he said had been vulgarized contrary to the actual bill he forwarded to parliament following a cabinet decision. He said the Sovereignty Bill he sent to parliament was noble but what was being discussed was totally a wrong bill which even sought to block FDIs!

Now, information suggests that when a ‘refined’ Sovereignty Bill has been considered by parliament, it is prudent for the Chief of State to either create a special ministry for Diaspora affairs or a Presidential Diaspora Commission.

In a missive accessed by this site, the President is being implored to create this docket to assist in Strategic Policy affairs which the current desk at MoFA is said to have totally failed and disconnected with the Diaspora itself.

The brief authored by NRM UK and US chapters working with operatives in ESO, wants the President to take action as one way to salvage the government’s image that is said to have been badly dented just like it was the case when Kizza Besigye and his Reform Agenda had just come. The proposed docket will act as a one stop center for Ugandan Diaspora, directly instil patriotism among Ugandan Diaspora, and also enable Uganda Diaspora to compete favourably with other foreign investors.

Here it goes!

PROPOSAL TO PRESIDENT MUSEVENI TO CREATE MINISTRY OF DIASPORA/PRESIDENTIAL DIASPORA COMMISSION ALONG WITH REFINED SOVEREIGNTY BILL

PRELIMINARY NOTE

It can be safely stated from the outset that ALL Ugandans without exception, regardless of tribe or race are very united in the Diaspora over common challenges like Immigration status, discrimination, uganda currency stability & indeed Ugandan’s political and security stability for siblings back home & their own investments and earnings repartriation back to Uganda. In this context the recent Sovereignty Bill is a matter of common concern in the Diaspora. It must therefore work for the Diaspora who have a direct stake in their homeland of investment and ultimate cultural identity (ENONO/OBUWANGA).

BACKGROUND

During Reform Agenda days of Kizza Besigye, Museveni faced hurdles in western Capitals as it was hotbed for opposition to the NRM government. Various people participated in opposition noise making mainly for justifying their Immigration status especially the majority who were trying to justify asylum seekers claims.

It took the intervention of bold and Patriotic Ugandans to help extinguish the opposition onslaught against Museveni in the Diaspora. These patriots and essentially NRM Cadres boldly organized Ugandans in the diaspora to rally to the NRM cause.

Patriots organized and set up NRM chapters to counter this opposition often vile propaganda with the nucleus being in UK, USA and Sweden among others. The UK & Ireland NRM chapter was founded by Barristers Peter Magomu Mashate, Patrick Asiimwe & Charles Rukwengye amongst others while the US was led by Abbey Walusimbi, Godfrey Seruwagi, Edirisa Kironde while Sweden had Adam Kasambula. All formed and elected Diaspora League executive chaired by Abbey Walusimbi with Barrister Peter Magomu Mashate as General secretay all elected at Nambole at the Innaugral NRM national conference following the opening up of multi party political space and dispensation.

These chapters organised several “meet your president” meetings in the Diaspora which president Museveni personally addressed many Ugandans in UK, USA and beyond. President Museveni confronted Ugandan Diaspora and directly challenged them on patriotism and building of their country through investment in Uganda. Yes, Museveni succeeded and nearly $3billion, is annually remitted back home interest-free and no Strings attached. Museveni still relies on these chapters to contain the opposition rhetoric in those capitals.

The Dual citizenship Act

This was vigorously lobbied by these patriots. As a matter of fact both Amb. Abbey Walusimbi & Barrister Peter Magomu Mashate were invited by the Parliamentary internal affairs Committee during tenure of HE Edward Sekandi as Speaker to give evidence on the feasibilty and operationisation of this dual citizenship legislation.

Diaspora Desk in Foreign Affairs Ministry

This was vigorously lobbied for by the Diaspora League at almost every “meet your President” meeting with HE President Museveni until when he directed its creation.

However, the current Diaspora desk in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is basically more of a welfare liaison office than a strategic policy and operational office strategically placed to streamline, lobby, sensitise direct Diaspora capital repatriation & investment of nearly USD 3 billion INTEREST FREE back to Uganda of over 1 million Ugandans abroad.

In short, in its current form its not “FIT FOR PURPOSE” in the contemporary circumstances.

However, with the current proposals, these will certainly serve realignment and consistency envisaged in the Sovereignty Bill soon becoming an Act of Parliament on Uganda’s statute books.

If the government takes the view of a full fledged Ministry of Diaspora affairs then protocol places it under the Office of the Prime Minister.

If however it becomes a Presidential Commission for Diaspora affairs, it then comes under the office of the President. Temptation to place it under Foreign affairs MUST be avoided as the current Diaspora desk in Foreign Affairs has demonstrated failure and disconnection. The conflict of interest will be clearly manifest. In any event, Foreign affairs is responsible for diplomatic affairs necessarily and diplomatically puts the “nastiest things in the nicest way” even where Ugandans rights are trampled on and Ugandans herded in Immigration detention centers. Here Ugandans in Diaspora communities fight for each other by contributing towards legal solutions through host countries legal systems. Its the unshakable Diaspora spirit of “MUNNO MUKABI YE MUNO DDALA” which is their thread of survival and the bitter/sour bread they all jointly feed on without exception and this consititutes a binding bond first and foremost as Ugandans for a better life and for God and their country Uganda.

HOW DO YOU ADDRESS CONFLICT OF INTEREST BETWEEN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS & MINISTRY FOR UGANDAN DIASPORA?

The precedent lies in the British structure where you have Ministry for overseas development vis-as-vis Ministry for Foreign Affairs led by the British Secretary of State. There is no conflict of interest. Whereas the overseas Ministry predominantly addresses matters of common wealth countries (essentially former British colonies) Foreign sectretary addresses global affairs as envisaged and defined by united nations, universal convetions and protocols.

Therefore, the Diaspora Ministry of Diaspora will not conflict with with Ministry for Foreign affairs but complement by linking and bridging the missing gap.

*How to minimise the Ministry for Diaspora & regional desks operational costs*

Diaspora desks should be created in relevant Ugandan Embassies and High Commissions but directly answerable to Diaspora ministry in Kampala.

The government already has a skelton structure or port of call by way of the office of Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi. This one should ideally be expanded into a full fledged Ministry of Diaspora affairs.

*Diaspora terms of reference for possible regional Diaspora desks*

Americas & Europe

Desk: Focuses on high-skill transfers, tech investment, and the UK/USA Ugandan communities.

Middle East Desk: Focuses on labor rights, welfare, and safe remittance channels for migrant workers.

Africa & Asia Desk: Focuses on regional trade and emerging Ugandan business hubs.

Investment & Remittance Officer:

Works with the Uganda Investment Authority (UIA) to create diaspora-specific bonds or investment vehicles.

Welfare & Consular Liaison:

Coordinates with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) for emergency support and legal protection.

Data & Communications Officer:

Manages the diaspora database and digital engagement platforms.

2. TACi Matrix

A TACi (Task, Accountable, Consulted, informed) matrix ensures clear roles between the Diaspora Unit and other government ministries.

Inter-Ministry Key- Task Diaspora Unit with Min. of Foreign Affairs Min. of Gender/Labor Uganda Investment Authority

Diaspora Policy Formulation ,

Emergency Welfare/Evacuations,

Labor Export facilitation and Regulation,

Diaspora Investment Incentives,

Mapping & Database Mamagement all these actions will lead to full, vibrant and workable integration with all relevant facilities and services to enhance and integrate the Ugandan Diaspora with their Diaspora 2nd, 3rd Diaspora generations and beyond for posterity.

3. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The unit’s success should be measured by its ability to convert engagement into tangible national growth.

– Economic Impact

Remittance Growth: Target a 10% annual increase in formal remittance inflows (tracked via Bank of Uganda).

– Diaspora FDI: Number of registered businesses or housing projects initiated by Ugandans living abroad.

– Skills Transfer: Number of “brain gain” programs where diaspora experts consult for local Ugandan institutions (Health, ICT, Engineering, Education).

– Service & Engagement

– Response Time: Depending on the origin, nature and magnitudes of enquiried a 72-hour maximum turnaround for inquiries regarding land disputes or dual citizenship processing.

Database Reach:

– % of the estimated 1M+ diaspora members registered in the unit’s official digital portal.

Policy Success:

Implementation of a “Diaspora Bond” or specialized pension scheme for migrant workers especially in the Middle East.

Protection & Welfare

Distress

– Resolution: in percetange of reported labor or legal grievances in the Middle East successfully resolved through the Unit’s intervention.

Consular Efficiency: – Reduction in the average time taken to replace lost passports or documents for Ugandans abroad.

Its true value lies in being a “one-stop center” that cuts through red tape for Ugandans who find the traditional embassy processes too slow.

Designing specific ways this unit could handle the unique challenges of migrant workers in the Middle East, South Africa versus the professional diaspora in the Europa/ Americas Region particularly UK/USA/Canada.

The Ugandan Diaspora are hard working patriots they have seen and gone through thick and thin and are only interested in stability back home. Please for the reasons partly set out above His Excellency president Yoweri Kaguta Museveni should offer them an exclusive Ministry of Diaspora affairs like that of the British Department for overseas development which is separate from the British Ministry for Foreign Affairs.