DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES — Minister for the Presidency Babirye Milly Babalanda has urged the Basoga diaspora to use the skills, professional experience, networks and resources they acquire abroad to create investment and development opportunities in Busoga and Uganda.
Babalanda made the call on Saturday, September 26, 2026, while addressing members of the Basoga community in the United Arab Emirates during activities to mark the 12th Coronation Anniversary of His Majesty William Wilberforce Gabula Nadiope IV, the Kyabazinga of Busoga.
The engagement, held at the Mövenpick Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai, brought together the Kyabazinga, government officials, Basoga living in the United Arab Emirates and other parts of the Gulf region, as well as members of the wider Basoga diaspora.
The event provided an opportunity to celebrate the Kyabazinga’s 12th Coronation Anniversary while strengthening the relationship between the Kingdom of Busoga, its people abroad and communities back home.
Babalanda conveyed greetings from President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the First Lady and Minister of Education and Sports, Maama Janet Kataaha Museveni, the Secretary to the Office of the President, Hajji Yunus Kakande, and staff of the Office of the President.
She urged Basoga living abroad to maintain strong cultural ties with their homeland by preserving their language, history, traditions and values.
“Life abroad should provide an opportunity to acquire knowledge, skills and experience that can be used to create opportunities and contribute to development back home,” Babalanda said.
She encouraged members of the diaspora to build networks that can facilitate investment, knowledge exchange, skills development, mentorship and partnerships between Ugandans abroad and institutions, businesses and communities at home.
Babalanda identified agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, technology and real estate among the sectors where members of the diaspora could invest their capital, knowledge and professional expertise.
She said the experience and international networks gained abroad can be channelled into productive ventures that support household incomes, create employment and contribute to economic development in Busoga and Uganda.
The Minister also encouraged Ugandans working in the Gulf region to use their time abroad productively by acquiring new skills, expanding their professional knowledge, saving and making responsible investments.
She called for greater unity among Basoga from across the different parts of the Kingdom, saying stronger community networks can help identify opportunities for investment, skills development, mentorship and knowledge transfer.
Babalanda further reminded the diaspora of their role as ambassadors of Uganda and Busoga, urging them to uphold discipline, integrity, hard work and respect while living and working abroad.
She cautioned against allowing exposure to life abroad to weaken cultural identity or responsibility towards families and communities back home.
Instead, she encouraged the Basoga diaspora to use their international exposure to broaden their perspectives while remaining connected to their roots and contributing to the development of their communities.
Babalanda reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to working with cultural institutions, communities and Ugandans in the diaspora to promote unity, preserve Uganda’s cultural heritage and support socio-economic transformation.
The Dubai engagement therefore combined the celebration of the Kyabazinga’s 12th Coronation Anniversary with a call for the Basoga diaspora to strengthen cultural ties and turn their skills, experience, networks and resources into opportunities for investment, knowledge transfer and development in Uganda.
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