NRM South Africa Chapter Pushes For Visa-Free Entry And Diaspora Voting Rights

The upcoming National Resistance Movement (NRM) South Africa Chapter Symposium aims to strengthen trade relations and advocate for visa-free travel and voting rights for Ugandans in the diaspora, according to organizers.

Speaking at a press conference held at the NRM Secretariat in Kampala, the Chairperson of the South Africa NRM Chapter, Isma Luzige confirmed that the President of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, will officiate the symposium as the Chief Guest. The NRM Secretary-General, Rt Hon Richard Todwong, will serve as a keynote speaker, providing guidance as the administrative leader and custodian of the party.

Scheduled for September 27-28, 2024, at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, this sixth edition of the symposium will explore avenues for socio-economic transformation through commercial diplomacy, business partnerships, and deeper connections across Africa.

Mr. Luzige emphasized that the symposium’s primary goal is to advocate for a visa waiver that would facilitate business activities and to push for diaspora voting rights, with a focus on the estimated million-plus Ugandans living in Southern Africa.

“We will have the entire secretariat, and they have accepted their presence regarding the sixth NRM South African Symposium. At this event, we will look into a number of issues, but mainly, the VISA waiver,” Luzige said, adding that the two presidents of Uganda and South Africa recently reached a consensus over the same, and thus they will push for it during the symposium.

“We are also looking to see how we can penetrate into the South African market and South Africa also to penetrate into the Ugandan market,” he emphasized.

Beyond foreign remittances, Mr. Luzige explained that “attracting direct investment and creating employment opportunities are vital for the socio-economic transformation of our homeland as one of the four core values of the NRM party.”

Mr. Isma Luzige (L) and Maj Awich Pollar (R), NRM’s Director for External Affairs, addressed the media on Wednesday, August 21, at NRM party headquarters in Kampala.

On his part, Bob Luswata Nkangi, the Secretary General of the South African NRM Chapter, urged Ugandans and supporters of the NRM party to make use of this symposium as a platform to unlock trade and investment opportunities in one of the most developed countries on the continent.

According to Luswata, the symposium is also an opportunity to clear the stereotypes around South Africa being red-taped and not a favorable destination for investment on the continent. “Let’s use this opportunity to lure Ugandan investors that the situation in South Africa is not as bad as it is painted,” he said.

Maj (Rtd) Awich Pollar, the Director of External Affairs at the NRM Secretariat, highlighted the close ties and historical friendship between Uganda and South Africa, which were strengthened during the Anti-apartheid struggles.

“We are now focusing on the economic empowerment of our people in both countries in the spirit of Pan-Africanism,” Maj Awich said, urging all Ugandans in southern Africa to participate fully in the symposium to seize the available opportunities.

The Chairperson of the organizing committee, Mr. Norman Nimusiima, urged the Uganda Diaspora community to ignore any divisive politics that are meant to deter people from the main focus of the symposium.