President Yoweri Museveni has urged Ugandans recently repatriated from South Africa to rebuild their lives by pursuing income-generating opportunities in agriculture, services, industrialisation and information and communication technology.
Museveni made the appeal while addressing 1,030 returnees during their pass-out ceremony at the National Leadership Institute in Kyankwanzi on Sunday, 19 July 2026.
The group had spent about two weeks at the institute undergoing rehabilitation, counselling, ideological orientation and training intended to prepare them for reintegration into their communities.
“We have four sectors here in Uganda where you can make wealth. They are agriculture, services, industrialisation, information, communication and technology,” Museveni said.
The President used televised accounts of Ugandans who had established successful enterprises under his four-sector wealth-creation model to encourage the returnees to identify opportunities available within Uganda.
He cautioned them against believing that prosperity could only be found outside the country and encouraged them to use their experience, professional skills and available government programmes to begin rebuilding their livelihoods.
Government announces reintegration support
Museveni announced Shs2 billion in financial support for the returnees and an additional Shs2 million for each household head to facilitate transport back to their home districts.
He advised the beneficiaries to combine the assistance with existing government livelihood programmes, including the Parish Development Model and Emyooga.
The President also asked those who lost businesses, property and other assets during the violence in South Africa to document their losses accurately so that the government could assess possible interventions.
Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja said Uganda Airlines had transported all 1,030 citizens back to Uganda without charging them for the flights. She described the evacuation as one of the government’s largest humanitarian interventions involving Ugandan citizens abroad.
Acting foreign affairs minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo said three Ugandans were killed during the attacks. He said President Museveni had provided a Shs10 million condolence contribution to each of the bereaved families.
Returnees complete rehabilitation programme
Commissioner of the National Secretariat for Patriotism Corps Hellen Seku said the institute received 738 adults and 292 children.
The returnees underwent sessions in patriotism, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, responsible citizenship, self-defence and basic paramilitary skills. They were also provided with counselling and psychosocial support following the violence and displacement they experienced in South Africa.
Government agencies used the programme to provide health, identification and business-registration services. Mobile registration teams helped 650 adults obtain National Identity Cards, while 239 children were issued National Identification Numbers.
Four adults and six children who required specialised medical attention were referred to Mulago National Referral Hospital. A temporary nursery facility was also established at the institute to care for children while their parents attended training sessions.
The returnees mounted a parade during the ceremony, which was attended by senior government officials, including Nabbanja, Kasolo, Seku and Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Paul Amoru.
Returnees pledge to rebuild
Speaking on behalf of the group, returnees’ chairperson Felix Mugabi thanked the government for facilitating their evacuation and supporting them during the rehabilitation programme.
He said members of the group possessed skills in areas including automotive engineering, construction, carpentry, tailoring, metal fabrication, leatherwork, information technology and real estate.
The returnees said they were prepared to rebuild their lives through agriculture, manufacturing, vocational work and entrepreneurship after losing employment, businesses and property during the attacks.
The programme followed their evacuation from South Africa after xenophobic violence targeting foreign African nationals disrupted businesses, destroyed property and forced affected Ugandans to seek safety.
