Africa-Press – Uganda. Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs estimated the number of Ugandans in the diaspora at 781,400 as of 2020, with most of them being migrant workers, the local media reported, citing head of Diaspora Department in the ministry, Johnny Muhindo.
Ugandans living abroad are not likely to be able to vote in the 2026 elections unless the government promptly establishes a policy specifically addressing the diaspora, the local media reported, citing an official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In this regard, Uganda is not as advanced as Rwanda, Kenya, and Tanzania that have identified their diasporas as one of their overseas constituencies, Johnny Muhindo, the head of the Diaspora Department in the ministry, told the media.
Nevertheless, there is a draft version of the policy, but it requires further development with the participation of the diaspora itself.
“The ministry has a draft diaspora policy, 2020, but it lacks several key elements. Since this policy will directly impact diaspora, they must actively participate in its formulation, providing direct input and taking ownership. We need to precisely identify where these individuals are located, who they are, and what skills they have gained during their time abroad,” Muhindo was quoted as saying.
The diaspora cannot vote due to the fact that they do not have national IDs, although this contradicts the 2020 Kampala High Court ruling that reportedly stated that the Electoral Commission must organize voting for prisoners and the Ugandan diaspora, saying their continued disenfranchisement is unconstitutional.
“Currently, Ugandans abroad cannot vote because they lack national IDs, and without these, they cannot acquire freehold land; instead, they have to lease because they are regarded as non-citizens. The government is saying that by 2026, the diaspora should be able to vote, but the question is: which diaspora? Do we know exactly how many Ugandans are in the diaspora? Nobody can definitively claim to be aware of all Ugandans living in the diaspora. These diasporas also have no information on how to register and become voters, which is why mobilization and sensitization are urgently needed,” Muhindo said, as cited by the media.
The minister also said that the absence or inadequacy of relevant laws makes it impossible to protect Ugandans living abroad if they have any problems or to prosecute and punish those responsible if a member of the diaspora is killed, the media added.
Lastly, he reportedly called on the government to increase the budget of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to enable it to locate Ugandans living abroad.
Last week, Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Norbert Mao said he had submitted a proposal to the cabinet to allow prisoners and Ugandans in the diaspora to vote in elections, according to the report.
The last general election in Uganda was held in 2021, which was won by Yoweri Museveni with 58.64%. In 2026, the East African country will again have to choose its leader. Elections are scheduled for January 12–February 9.
The nomination of candidates for the presidential campaign is scheduled for October 2-3, 2025; the demarcation of polling stations will be carried out by July 2024; and the general update of the National Voter Register will be by January 2025, according to the Election Commission.
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