Nairobi, November 10, 2026… Ugandan professionals and entrepreneurs living in Kenya are being urged to look beyond basic consumption remittances and instead embrace structured investments to build long-term wealth back home.
This call was the central theme at a Diaspora Investment Forum held in Nairobi, hosted by Equity Bank Uganda in partnership with the Uganda Network (UGNET). The forum highlighted an ongoing evolution in diaspora finance, shifting away from sending money to relatives for daily upkeep, towards wealth creation through real estate, agribusiness, and business expansion.
The push to channel these funds into investments comes against the backdrop of growing diaspora inflows. In April 2026, the Bank of Uganda, in partnership with the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), introduced an interactive remittance dashboard. The tool was designed to capture and aggregate transaction-level data across financial institutions.
By processing the previous year’s records through this enhanced tracking system, the dashboard revealed that Uganda’s total diaspora remittances reached $2.5 billion in 2025. Kenya remains a key remittance corridor for Uganda within the continent, historically accounting for hundreds of millions of dollars annually, indicating the capital available for cross-border investments.
Echoing this shift, UGNET Chair and Senior Health Adviser at the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Dr Phionah Atuhebwe, noted that the diaspora must awaken to its financial potential.
“The diaspora is far more than just remittances; we are a powerhouse of investment capital, professional expertise, innovation, and global networks,” said Dr Atuhebwe. “Moving beyond simply sending money home to deliberately building sustainable assets is how we create long-term prosperity.”
To support this transition, commercial lenders are rethinking their diaspora offerings. According to Claver Serumaga, Executive Director at Equity Bank Uganda, the financial sector is moving away from just facilitating money transfers to tailoring solutions that walk with customers throughout their investment journey.
“True diaspora banking goes beyond simple transactions,” Mr Serumaga explained. “It is about building a solid financial partnership that supports your long-term goals and secures your future back home.”
Facilitating these cross-border ambitions is the financial integration within the East African Community. Winfred Warui, Senior Manager for International Banking and Cross-Border Payments at Equity, pointed out that inter-country banking capabilities now allow Ugandans in Nairobi to seamlessly buy land, fund construction projects, grow agribusinesses, or expand business ventures back home directly, while accessing competitive foreign exchange rates.
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Realizing these investment ambitions, however, requires financial discipline. During the forum, participants were advised to adopt wealth-creation habits, including saving consistently, diversifying their portfolios, and dealing strictly with regulated institutions to avoid the common pitfalls of investing from afar.
Beyond the financial mechanics, this push for structured diaspora investment is also drawing backing from diplomatic circles, who view it as a pillar for economic integration and security.
Uganda’s High Commissioner to Kenya, Eunice Kigenyi, assured investors that there are secure, government-backed pathways for their capital. “Our role is to ensure that as you build your future here, you also build your home,” she said. “We provide the legal and secure pathways to ensure that your hard-earned investments are protected, authenticated, and anchored in trust.”
Kenya’s Ambassador to Uganda, Ababu Namwamba further lauded the initiative. He noted that encouraging the diaspora to channel their earnings into productive investments not only builds individual wealth but actively strengthens East African integration by connecting businesses and opportunities across borders.
Such initiatives strengthen regional integration by connecting people, businesses, and opportunities across borders,” he noted
