President Probes Eternal Ambassadors in Diplomatic Missions Abroad

President Yoweri Museveni has launched a high-level investigation into the performance of Uganda’s long-standing foreign missions, focusing on long-serving diplomats during whose tenure economic and political influence in Europe and other areas has declined. 

At the center of the probe is Mirjam Blaak-Sow, Uganda’s Head of Mission to the European Union and the Benelux countries.

Blaak has maintained a presence in Uganda’s diplomatic circles for the past 40 years, a tenure that spans the entire duration of the NRM’s time in government.

Highly placed sources told this publication that the President is frustrated by the stark contrast between EU investment opportunities flowing into Uganda versus its East African neighbors. 

For instance, while Kenya successfully secured approximately $3.5 billion in EU Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) for the 2024–2025 period, and Rwanda drew in $1.8 billion, Uganda lagged significantly behind with only $1.2 billion. 

The disparity is being blamed on a lack of aggressive trade diplomacy. Kenya and Rwanda have successfully pivoted toward tech, green energy, and manufacturing sectors, whereas Uganda’s mission in Brussels is accused of remaining reactive and failing to progress stalled interests in the country’s lucrative oil and gas sector.

The investigation also highlights what a senior government official described as a "diplomatic surrender" regarding the Ugandan opposition’s influence abroad. 

Under Ambassador Blaak’s tenure, National Unity Platform (NUP) leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, has seen his profile rise within European institutions. 

In February 2026, the European Parliament adopted a scathing resolution condemning the NRM government’s conduct during the recent election cycle. This diplomatic victory for the opposition is viewed by Kampala as a major failure of the Brussels mission to manage the national narrative. 

The same official noted that while other Ugandan ambassadors in different capitals have successfully managed to counter the presence of opposition leaders by dominating diplomatic channels, the Brussels mission has allowed Bobi Wine to gain unprecedented access to the EU Parliament. The sources indicated that changes in guard in Uganda’s key diplomatic missions abroad are currently in the offing.