Ugandans living and working in Kenya are being urged to channel more of their earnings into long-term investments back home, as Uganda seeks to turn rising diaspora remittances into capital for businesses, property and agriculture.
The call was made at a Diaspora Investment Forum in Nairobi, hosted by Equity Bank Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Network (UGNET), where participants were encouraged to move beyond money sent to families for daily expenses towards structured wealth creation.
Uganda received $2.5 billion in diaspora remittances in 2025, according to a dashboard launched in April 2026 by the Bank of Uganda and the United Nations’ International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to improve tracking of cross-border transfers.
Kenya is an important remittance corridor within Africa, providing a significant pool of potential investment capital that could support Uganda’s productive sectors.
“The diaspora is far more than just remittances; we are a powerhouse of investment capital, professional expertise, innovation, and global networks,” said Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, UGNET chair and senior health adviser at UNICEF.
Atuhebwe says converting money transfers into sustainable assets would help build long-term prosperity for families and the wider economy.
Equity Bank Uganda Executive Director Claver Serumaga says lenders were expanding their role beyond facilitating transfers to providing financial solutions that support customers throughout their investment journeys.
Equity, Senior Manager for International Banking and Cross-Border Payments, Winfred Warui says Ugandans in Kenya could use regional banking services to finance land purchases, construction, agribusiness and business expansion back home.
She says the services also offer access to competitive foreign exchange rates, helping investors manage transactions across the two markets.
Participants were urged to save consistently, diversify investments and use regulated financial institutions to reduce the risks associated with investing from abroad.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Eunice Kigenyi says the government was working to provide secure and legally recognised channels for diaspora investments.
Kenya’s Ambassador to Uganda, Ababu Namwamba says channelling diaspora earnings into productive ventures would strengthen individual wealth while deepening East African economic integration through stronger business links across borders.