KYANKWANZI – The Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Sanjay Tanna, has encouraged Ugandan returnees from violent South Africa to embrace a fresh start and invest in Uganda as a land rich with opportunities.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Minister was addressing repatriated Ugandans while accompanying the Prime Minister of Uganda, Robinah Nabbanja, to the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi for a rehabilitation and reintegration programme.
Following recent unrest and xenophobic attacks in South Africa that claimed the lives of at least three Ugandans, a total of 1,030 citizens have been safely repatriated on four voluntary evacuation flights.
Minister Tanna stirred the hearts of the returnees, urging them to transform their return into a courageous leap forward rather than a step backward, in a country where every sunrise brings fresh promise.
He reminded them that history holds many who overcame displacement, from expelled Ugandan Indians and Zimbabwean farmers to war survivors, all of whom rebuilt thriving lives.
“This is not the end, but a fresh start in a land full of hope. History proves that displacement does not shape your destiny. Expelled Indians, displaced Zimbabwean farmers, and war survivors all rebuilt their lives. You are not the first to face hardship, nor the last to rise above it,” Minister Tanna noted.
The minister assured them of full government backing, pointing to Uganda’s $65 billion economy and its bold $500 billion target by 2040, while emphasising that every citizen has a vital role in the nation’s ascent.
Meanwhile, Uganda’s Prime Minister, Robinah Nabbanja, while chairing the session, thanked President Museveni and all involved agencies for executing the large-scale repatriation effort.
She embraced the returnees with open arms, encouraging them to tap into Uganda’s abundant opportunities and apply their acquired skills to rebuild their lives and seamlessly rejoin their communities.
The repatriated Ugandans are undergoing intensive trauma counselling at Kyankwanzi, helping them process the emotional wounds of xenophobic violence, including loss of businesses, homes, and loved ones.
The reintegration programme equips them with life skills and coping strategies to ease community return and address economic hardships from abandoning their South African livelihoods.
Government officials have since confirmed that the rehabilitation process aims to help returnees heal from trauma, rebuild confidence, and reintegrate as productive citizens.
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