Published on 22/08/2024
The forthcoming sixth edition of the National Resistance Movement (NRM) South Africa Chapter Symposium is set to unlock more trade and investment opportunities and remove visa fees for Ugandans living here and in South Africa, organizers have said.
The symposium scheduled for September 27-28, 2024, at Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg, South Africa’s capital will run under the theme; “Social Economic Transformation & Navigating through Trade on the African Continent and will focus on commercial diplomacy, business-to-business, and people-to-people interactions across various sectors.”

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, and the NRM Secretary-General, Rt Hon Richard Todwong will be a keynote speaker as he is the administrative pillar and custodian of the party.
The symposium according to Mr Luzige is aimed at advocating for a visa waiver to enable Ugandans conduct business and to push for diaspora voting, with a focus on the estimated over million Ugandans in Southern Africa.
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“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 Africa 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.”

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 favourable 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.