PLU General Secretary Assures South African Returnees of Support, Urges Them to Use Skills for Uganda’s Development

The General Secretary of the Patriotic League of Uganda (PLU), Hon. Twalla Fadil, has assured Ugandans returning from South Africa that they are not abandoned or stranded, urging them to view their return as an opportunity to contribute to the country’s socio-economic transformation.

Hon. Fadil, who was representing the PLU Chairman and Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, delivered the message during the ongoing rehabilitation and patriotism training programme for South African returnees at the National Leadership Institute (NALI) in Kyankwanzi.

He encouraged the returnees to embrace their homecoming positively and use the knowledge, skills, and experiences acquired abroad to create opportunities and participate in Uganda’s development agenda.

According to Fadil, the skills gained while working in South Africa should not be viewed as wasted experiences but rather as valuable resources that can contribute to national growth.

He conveyed Gen. Muhoozi’s message advising the returnees to “copy and paste” the positive lessons, work ethics, and skills they acquired abroad and apply them within their communities in Uganda.

“Do not look at your return as a setback. The experience and skills you acquired outside the country are an asset that Uganda needs. Use what you learnt to build yourselves, your communities, and the nation,” Fadil said.

He urged the returnees to take advantage of government empowerment programmes aimed at improving household incomes and supporting entrepreneurship, including the Parish Development Model (PDM), Emyooga, and other community-based initiatives.

Fadil noted that such programmes were created to empower ordinary Ugandans economically and called on the returnees to actively participate instead of resisting government interventions intended to improve livelihoods.

He assured them that efforts were being made to ensure that Ugandans with skills acquired from abroad are supported to apply those skills productively at home rather than returning overseas to seek low-paying jobs.

The PLU General Secretary also emphasized the importance of patriotism, encouraging the returnees to maintain the spirit of national responsibility developed during the training.

He warned that a country without patriotic citizens risks being weakened by divisions, conflicts, and instability. 

Fadil cautioned the participants against tribalism, ethnic divisions, and other forms of discrimination, saying that the experiences of xenophobia and social divisions witnessed in some foreign countries should serve as lessons for Uganda.

He encouraged Ugandans to embrace unity regardless of tribe, ethnicity, religion, gender, or region, emphasizing that national development can only be achieved when citizens work together as one people.

“Uganda belongs to all Ugandans. We must look beyond our differences and focus on building a peaceful and prosperous country for everyone,” he said.

The rehabilitation and patriotism training for South African returnees is being conducted by the National Secretariat for Patriotic Corps under State House, with the aim of equipping participants with skills in patriotism, leadership, mindset change, and national development.

The programme is part of broader government efforts to engage Ugandans returning from abroad and help them reintegrate into communities while encouraging them to use their acquired skills and experiences to support Uganda’s economic transformation.