NRM SG Richard Todwong to Headline 6th South Africa Symposium
By The Public Lens
The National Resistance Movement (NRM) party is set to hold its 6th South Africa Chapter Symposium, with Secretary General, Rt. Hon. Richard Todwong, as the keynote speaker.
The symposium, scheduled for September 27-28, 2024, will focus on social economic transformation and navigating trade on the African continent.
Addressing a press conference at the President’s Office in Kampala, the Chairperson of the South Africa NRM Chapter, Isma Luzige, highlighted the significance of the symposium in strengthening the relationship between Uganda and South Africa.
“The symposium will bring together Ugandans and other stakeholders from various sectors to discuss commercial diplomacy, business-to-business, and people-to-people interactions,” Luzige said.
Ambassador Abbey Walusimbi, Senior Presidential Advisor on Diaspora Affairs, emphasized the President’s Office support for the initiative, noting that it aligns with the government’s efforts to engage the Diaspora community.
“The symposium is open to all people, regardless of creed or political affiliation, as the matters to be discussed benefit everyone,” Walusimbi said.
The symposium aims to advocate for visa-free entry to South Africa, enabling open borders for Ugandans to conduct business, and to push for Diaspora voting.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to South Africa, H.E. Ambassador Paul Amoru, appreciated President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni’s attention to Diaspora issues and highlighted the need to engage Diaspora communities in South Africa to boost remittances.
The symposium will feature participants from different political parties and sectors, including ANC, RPF, and others.
As of January 2024, Uganda received $1.25 billion in remittances from the Diaspora, equivalent to 5.5 trillion shillings.
The Chairperson of the organizing committee, Norman Nimusiima, urged the Uganda Diaspora community to ignore divisive politics and focus on the main objectives of the symposium.
Senior Presidential Advisors, Ambassador Ahmed Kisuule and Hon. Vincent Bamulangaki Sempijja, also attended the briefing and urged active participation in the symposium for the development of Uganda.
