By Wadulo Arnold Mark
Imagine living thousands of miles away from home in a massive country like Canada, spread across four different time zones. For years, Ugandans living in Canada were organized in small, separate groups—some based on their tribes, some on religion, and others simply by the city they lived in, like Vancouver, Edmonton, or Toronto. While these local groups did great work, they were operating in “silos,” meaning they worked alone without a single unified voice.
That is all changing now thanks to a fresh initiative called the National Alliance of Ugandan Canadian Associations (NAUCA).
In an exclusive interview, NAUCA’s President and Board Chair, Justus Mirembe, explained how this new alliance was born and why it matters to young Ugandans both in Canada and back home.
Breaking the Silos: Why NAUCA Was Built
The idea for a national umbrella body started two years ago on Canadian Thanksgiving Sunday in 2024. A dedicated team of Ugandans realized that working in isolated groups meant missing out on bigger opportunities. Previous attempts over the last two decades had struggled because of long distances, different time zones, and a lack of sustained volunteer commitment.
To fix this, Mirembe and 11 founding board members developed a structured 7-phase approach to build NAUCA. Instead of trying to sign up thousands of individuals one by one, NAUCA connects the leaders of existing local associations.
“When information comes from NA, we disseminate it to the presidents, and the onus is on the presidents to disseminate to their membership,” Mirembe shared during the interview. This setup creates a clean, organized network where news—like government national ID registration drives or community updates—flows smoothly across Canada.
The initiative officially launched at the Westin Hotel in Ottawa during Uganda’s 63rd Independence Day celebrations. The official launch was led by Mohammed Bagonza, Head of the State House Diaspora Unit, alongside his deputy Henry Wabyona and Acting High Commissioner Amb. Allan Kajik.
The Three Pillars: Immigration, Health, and Education
NAUCA is built on three main pillars: Immigration, Health, and Education.
For young people and students, this opens real doors. On the education side, NAUCA plans to partner with Canadian institutions to help students in Uganda access scholarships, grants, and international study resources.
When it comes to health, NAUCA is tapping into something young people love: sports. Across Canada, Ugandan community soccer teams—like the BC Cranes in British Columbia, as well as teams in Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal—bring people together to stay active, build friendships, and promote wellness.
On the civic front, NAUCA advocates for important policy reforms, such as lower dual citizenship fees, visa waivers for Ugandans holding foreign passports, and diaspora voting rights.
More Than Money: Bringing ‘Brain Power’ Back Home
Uganda is aiming to grow its economy into a $500 billion powerhouse by 2040. While Ugandans living abroad send millions of dollars back home every year, Mirembe stresses that money alone isn’t enough.
The real secret weapon is what he calls the “invisible hand”—the skills, work ethic, and professional integrity gained abroad. Through “skills mapping” programs, NAUCA aims to connect trained Ugandan-Canadian professionals back to Uganda to share knowledge, improve public services, and fight workplace inefficiency.
“Time is money,” Mirembe pointed out, emphasizing that bringing strong professional ethics and time management back home can supercharge Uganda’s development. Ambassador Allan Kajik echoed this sentiment, describing the diaspora as a vast reservoir of knowledge, skills, and investment potential.
A Historic Win in New Westminster
NAUCA’s impact is already being felt in Canadian cities. Living in New Westminster, British Columbia, Mirembe led an effort to get the city council to officially recognize Uganda’s Independence Day.
After presenting their contributions to the local community, Mayor Patrick Johnstone officially proclaimed October 9, 2026, as Independence Day of the Republic of Uganda in New Westminster, complete with a formal flag-raising ceremony.
As NAUCA expands its reach under its core motto, “Together We Thrive,” it proves that when people unite across borders, big things happen.
