A Diaspora Investment Forum held in Nairobi and organised by Equity Bank Uganda together with the Uganda Network (UGNET) urged Ugandan professionals and entrepreneurs residing in Kenya to move from basic remittances toward structured investment projects.
Speakers highlighted a transition from sending money for everyday household needs to creating wealth through real estate, agribusiness and business expansion.
The appeal follows the launch in April 2026 of an interactive remittance dashboard by the Bank of Uganda and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, which compiled transaction-level data and reported total Ugandan diaspora remittances of $2.5 billion for 2025.
Kenya has historically served as a major corridor for Ugandan remittances, handling hundreds of millions of dollars each year, indicating a sizeable pool of capital for cross-border investment.
Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, UGNET chair and senior health adviser at UNICEF, said the diaspora is far more than remittances and must mobilise its investment capital, professional expertise, innovation and global networks to build sustainable assets.
Claver Serumaga, executive director of Equity Bank Uganda, said the financial sector is moving beyond simple money transfers to offer partnership solutions that support long-term goals and secure futures back home.
Winfred Warui, senior manager for international banking and cross-border payments at Equity, explained that regional banking integration now enables Ugandans in Nairobi to buy land, fund construction, develop agribusiness or expand enterprises in Uganda while accessing competitive foreign-exchange rates.
Participants were advised to adopt wealth-creation habits such as consistent saving, portfolio diversification and dealing only with regulated institutions to avoid common investment pitfalls.
Uganda’s high commissioner to Kenya, Eunice Kigenyi, assured investors that secure, government-backed pathways exist to protect and authenticate their capital.
Kenya’s ambassador to Uganda, Ababu Namwamba, praised the initiative, noting that channeling diaspora earnings into productive investments builds individual wealth and strengthens East African integration.
