WASHINGTON— Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs ambassador Abbey Walusimbi and Sierra Leone’s ambassador to United States Sidique Abou-Bakarr Wai have met and held bilateral talks in Washington DC— aimed at boosting cooperation in areas of mutual interest including diaspora engagement.
The officials emerged from the meeting with both sides deeming it “constructive” and “positive.”
Mr. Walusimbi said the engagement aimed at marketing Uganda’s tourism and investment opportunities to diaspora in which he is calling for conducive atmosphere in the African continent to favour or diaspora investment.
“It is time as Africans to work together towards creating a conducive atmosphere that will allow our historical diasporas to return to the continent so as to make settlements as well as investments,” Amb. Walusimbi said.
Like President Museveni, Amb. Walusimbi too is a strong proponent of diaspora investment in Uganda and Africa.
Amb. Sidique who is also the Secretary General ECOWAS Group of African Ambassadors in USA said that diaspora engagement must be made top priority for African countries to tap into the vast knowledge and potential they possess.
“When we talk of diaspora engagement, these diaspora in the United State are very smart, they are connected, they have resources, they have people in government, they know more that what you know about your countries. If you don’t engage them, they won’t share the information they have and information is power,” Amb. Sadique said.
Sadique noted that diaspora is a critical and essential force for governance, economic building and development of the African nations.
Amb. Walusimbi also made a courtesy call to Uganda’s ambassador to USA, Mull Katende at his office in Washington DC.
Walusimbi appreciated Mr. Katende for his continuous collaboration with the office of the Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs.
“I bring you sincere commendation from President Museveni for your tremendous services that you have rendered to all Ugandans in the US and the diaspora in general. I also take the opportunity to appreciate all the staff at the Embassy in Washington, the services that you render to the Ugandan community is much welcome,” Walusimbi noted.
