By our reporter
Ugandan US based film producer also Executive Director of ICare Foundation Isaac Kigozi has urged government to remove unreasonable administrative barriers for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) with streamlined regulatory procedures which will attract diaspora women and youth to invest in Uganda’s health sector.
He made the remarks on Tuesday at Speke Resort Munyonyo during the UK-East Africa Health Improvement Summit.
Mr. Kigozi revealed that Diasporas are uniquely positioned to contribute to boosting the development of Uganda’s health sector since most people are working in the health sector abroad but due the barriers many people are limited to come up with their investments.
He noted that many Ugandans and in other parts of East Africa have left their motherlands in search for better education or greener pastures and 70 percent of them are working in the health sector of these countries which makes them more capable of contributing to the development of sector back home.
Mr. Kigozi said in case government wants to attract diasporas as long as the health sector is concerned, it should tap into the private sector, NGOs and migrant associations because they have an important role to play in order to leverage diaspora resources for the benefit of the country such as establishment of crowd funding and impact investment platforms that target the diaspora.
“There is a need to tap into the private sector, NGOs and migrant associations because they have an important role to play in order to leverage diaspora resources for the benefit of our home countries. This could include; Establishment of crowd funding and impact investment platforms that target the diaspora, e.g. the Diaspora Business Centre that combines business and social interests with professional know-how by diaspora experts,” he stressed out.
He also encouraged government to consider cultivating and nurturing its relationship with the diaspora by engaging with these communities and facilitating the creation of diaspora networks.
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