KYANKWANZI, Uganda — President Yoweri Museveni has announced a comprehensive support package for 1,030 Ugandans repatriated from South Africa following xenophobic attacks, pledging Shs2 million to each returnee and allocating Shs2 billion to establish and strengthen a Savings and Credit Cooperative Organisation (SACCO) to help them rebuild their lives.
The President made the announcement on Sunday during the pass-out ceremony at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, where the returnees have spent nearly a month receiving training in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, life skills and other practical income-generating skills.
Museveni said the financial support is intended to ease the returnees’ transition back into their communities while enabling them to start sustainable businesses and create stable sources of income.
He encouraged the returnees, particularly the youth, to focus on opportunities available within Uganda instead of risking their lives in search of employment abroad.
According to the President, sectors such as commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communication technology (ICT) offer significant potential for wealth creation and long-term economic growth.
Museveni reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring that the returnees successfully reintegrate into society, noting that the Shs2 billion SACCO fund will provide affordable capital and strengthen their collective economic empowerment.
He also appealed to Ugandans still living and working abroad under difficult conditions to consider returning home and investing in the growing opportunities available in Uganda.
Commenting on the xenophobic attacks that forced the evacuation of the Ugandans, Museveni reiterated Uganda’s opposition to discrimination against fellow Africans.
He recalled Uganda’s historic support for South Africa during the anti-apartheid struggle, saying it was unacceptable for Africans to discriminate against one another on the continent.
The President also expressed sympathy to the families of the three Ugandans who lost their lives during the attacks in South Africa.
The 1,030 returnees were evacuated from South Africa after the wave of xenophobic violence. Following their arrival in Uganda, they were enrolled at NALI in Kyankwanzi, where they underwent intensive training designed to equip them with practical skills for self-employment and financial independence.
Government officials say the Shs2 billion SACCO initiative is expected to provide the returnees with access to affordable financing, helping them establish businesses and successfully reintegrate into their communities while contributing to Uganda’s economic development.
