President Suported Returnees

Museveni Gives Returnees from South Africa Shs2m Each, Injects Shs2bn Into Their SACCO

       After losing businesses, jobs and property in South Africa, 1,030 Ugandans who came back home following xenophobic attacks have been handed a fresh lifeline. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has dished out millions in direct support and billions to help them rebuild. Meeting the returnees at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi, where the group has been camped for weeks, undergoing counselling, skills training and rehabilitation Museveni announced that each returning family will receive Shs2 million, while their SACCO will be injected with Shs2 billion to help them restart businesses and create sustainable livelihoods. The 699 adult Ugandans who returned home after fleeing xenophobic attacks in South Africa are set to receive a financial boost from President. The returnees include 438 men, 261 women and 331 children aged up to 16 years.  Museveni told the returnees that the financial support was meant to help families meet immediate needs while the SACCO funding would allow them to rebuild through collective investment. He encouraged them to use Government wealth creation programmes, including the Parish Development Model (PDM) and Emyooga, to establish income-generating activities. He also advised them to explore the four sectors including ICT, Services ,Agriculture and Manufacturing. The President said Uganda has opportunities for citizens to create wealth and improve household incomes without being forced to seek survival abroad under difficult conditions. Museveni directed the returnees to document all businesses, property and investments they lost during the attacks. He said Government would engage South African authorities to pursue compensation for the affected Ugandans.