Ugandans living and working in Kenya have been urged to rethink how they send money home, with financial leaders calling on them to invest in businesses, real estate, and agribusiness instead of sending most of their earnings toward daily family expenses.
The appeal was made during a Diaspora Investment Forum held in Nairobi on Tuesday, November 10, where Ugandan professionals, entrepreneurs, financial institutions, and government representatives discussed ways to turn diaspora earnings into long-term investments.
The forum, organised by Equity Bank Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Network (UGNET), focused on the role Ugandans living abroad could play in growing their country’s economy through investments.
Ugandans in Kenya Urged to Turn Remittances Into Investments Back Home
UGNET Chairperson and UNICEF Senior Health Adviser Dr Phionah Atuhebwe said Ugandans abroad had financial resources, professional expertise and international networks that could be put to greater use back home.
She said diaspora communities needed to look beyond sending money to meet immediate family needs and consider investments that could generate wealth over time.
“The diaspora is far more than just remittances; we are a powerhouse of investment capital, professional expertise, innovation, and global networks,” Atuhebwe said.
She added that investing in sustainable assets would help create long-term prosperity for individuals and their home country.
The appeal comes as Uganda continues to receive substantial remittances from citizens living abroad.
Data from the Bank of Uganda, developed in partnership with the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), showed that the country received $2.5 billion in diaspora remittances in 2025.
The figures were made available through an interactive remittance dashboard launched on April 1, 2026, to improve the tracking of money sent into and out of the country.
The dashboard recorded more than 16 million remittance transactions in 2025, with an average transaction value of $152.
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How Equity Bank Plans to Help Ugandans Invest Back Home
Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director Claver Serumaga said banks needed to offer more than money transfer services to customers living outside their home countries.
He said diaspora banking should provide financial solutions that help customers plan and achieve their long-term investment goals.
“True diaspora banking goes beyond simple transactions,” Serumaga said.
“It is about building a solid financial partnership that supports your long-term goals and secures your future back home.”
Winfred Warui, Equity’s Senior Manager for International Banking and Cross-Border Payments, said improvements in cross-border banking had made it easier for Ugandans in Kenya to finance projects back home.
She cited land purchases, construction, agribusiness and business expansion as some of the investment opportunities available to diaspora customers.
Warui said customers could access banking services across borders while benefiting from competitive foreign exchange rates.
Participants were also encouraged to save consistently, spread their investments across different sectors and use regulated financial institutions when sending money or financing projects back home.
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Uganda, Kenya Seek to Boost Cross-Border Investments
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Eunice Kigenyi, said the government was working to provide secure channels through which citizens living abroad could invest in their home country.
She said the government wanted to ensure diaspora investors could verify their investments and access legal protections for their money.
“Our role is to ensure that as you build your future here, you also build your home,” Kigenyi said.
She added that investors needed assurance that their money was protected and that investment processes were transparent.
Kenya’s Ambassador to Uganda, Ababu Namwamba, also backed the initiative, saying diaspora investments could strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
He said connecting businesses, investors and opportunities across borders would support regional integration and create economic benefits for both Kenya and Uganda.
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