The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs), John Mulimba, has revealed that Uganda will reduce its diplomatic missions from 38 to about 15, following a directive from President Yoweri Museveni. The decision, made during a plenary sitting on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, addresses concerns over rising costs and the efficiency of the missions.
Mulimba revealed that the president has ordered a cost-benefit analysis of the 35 foreign missions, with a focus on identifying which offer the greatest return on investment. He explained that this review aims to resolve challenges such as low staffing and inadequate mission presence, leading to the decision to scale down the number of missions abroad.
The announcement followed a report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Catherine Lamwaka, which highlighted several issues facing Uganda’s diplomatic missions. These include security threats, underfunding, and staffing gaps. Mulimba also pointed out a budget shortfall of Shs238 billion, which affects critical areas such as staffing, infrastructure, wages, and subscriptions.
The committee raised concerns about Uganda's reliance on private security firms for mission protection, even though the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations mandates that host countries ensure the safety of foreign diplomatic premises. Additionally, the committee noted the high demand for consular services, particularly in Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, where many Ugandan migrant workers reside.
Missions in New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, and Nairobi were identified as handling a growing number of human trafficking cases involving Ugandans seeking overseas employment. While Uganda is only obligated to repatriate citizens in the event of war or natural disasters, the committee warned that failing to assist stranded nationals abroad could damage Uganda’s international reputation.
The committee recommended emergency funding of Shs1.2 billion for the New Delhi mission and Shs367 million for Kuala Lumpur to support repatriation efforts.
Muwada Nkunyingi, the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, expressed concern over the lack of substantive ambassadors in key countries, including the DRC, Iran, Kenya, Nigeria, and Canada. MPs also raised issues related to stagnant career progression for foreign service staff, with some officers having not been promoted for over 12 years despite a presidential directive.
Abdallah Kiwanuka criticised the absence of a coherent foreign policy on labour externalisation, which has left Ugandans vulnerable to human traffickers in the Middle East. Meanwhile, Eddie Kwizera called for clarity on Uganda’s foreign policy and compensation for damages to embassies, particularly Uganda House in Nairobi and the Kinshasa Mission.
