President Yoweri Museveni has announced that the 1,030 Ugandans recently repatriated from South Africa following violent xenophobic attacks will each receive Shs2 million, while their SACCO will be given Shs2 billion to help them rebuild their lives in Uganda.
Museveni made the announcement on Sunday while closing a two-week reintegration training programme for the returnees at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.
The President urged the returnees to change their mindset about seeking prosperity abroad, saying Uganda offers sufficient opportunities for young people to build successful lives at home.
He said the country has the resources and potential needed to create wealth, arguing that many young Ugandans risk their lives unnecessarily while searching for jobs and better opportunities overseas.
“Why would Ugandans leave such a beautiful country to go roaming around looking for jobs elsewhere?” Museveni asked.
Museveni also said he had personally raised the issue of xenophobic attacks against African migrants with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.
“I told President Ramaphosa that what is happening is dangerous for Africa,” Museveni said.
According to Museveni, Ramaphosa told him that those responsible for the attacks were enemies of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The Ugandan President urged Ramaphosa to take decisive action against xenophobia, warning that retaliation between African countries could have serious consequences for the continent.
“I urged him to deal decisively with xenophobia because welcoming fellow Africans is the right thing to do. If countries begin retaliating against one another, it will be dangerous for the entire continent,” he said.
Museveni also asked the returnees to provide accurate information about the property and businesses they lost during the violence in South Africa to enable the government to assess possible ways of supporting them.
