Uganda is set to significantly reduce its number of diplomatic missions abroad, cutting back from 38 to approximately 15, in line with a presidential directive aimed at curbing costs and improving efficiency, the government has announced.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs (Regional Affairs), John Mulimba, made the disclosure during, noting that the directive from President Yoweri Museveni was triggered by growing concerns over the financial burden and operational performance of Uganda’s foreign missions.
According to Mulimba, a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis of the country’s 35 operational missions is underway to determine which provide the most strategic value. The restructuring is also intended to address chronic issues such as understaffing and limited diplomatic reach.
The announcement came in response to findings presented by the Committee on Foreign Affairs, chaired by Catherine Lamwaka, which painted a bleak picture of the state of Uganda’s missions abroad.
The committee cited ongoing threats to security, inadequate funding, and human resource shortages as major obstacles to effective diplomatic engagement.
Mulimba also revealed that the ministry faces a budget deficit of UGX 238 billion, hampering its ability to fund critical areas including staffing, infrastructure maintenance, salaries, and international subscriptions.
In her report, Lamwaka noted that although the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961) obliges host countries to safeguard foreign missions, many Ugandan embassies rely on private security firms due to failure to formally request adequate state protection.
The report also highlighted urgent demands for consular services in Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, where large numbers of Ugandan migrant workers reside. Missions in New Delhi, Kuala Lumpur, and Nairobi are also overwhelmed, particularly in handling cases of human trafficking involving young Ugandans lured by promises of overseas employment.
The committee warned that Uganda’s limited support for citizens in distress abroad particularly in non-emergency situations, damages the country’s international image.
While repatriation is typically reserved for war or natural disasters, the committee emphasized the reputational risk of perceived governmental indifference.
In response, the committee recommended allocating emergency funds of Shs1.2 billion for the mission in New Delhi and Shs367 million for Kuala Lumpur to support repatriation and consular activities.
Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Muwada Nkunyingi criticized the absence of appointed ambassadors in strategic nations including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iran, Kenya, Nigeria, and Canada, questioning the government’s commitment to diplomatic continuity.
Similar frustrations were voiced by Kasilo County MP Elijah Okupa, who lamented stagnation in foreign service promotions, noting that some officers had not been elevated in over a decade despite presidential guidance on the matter.
Mukono North MP Abdallah Kiwanuka also raised concerns about Uganda’s lack of a coordinated foreign policy on labour externalisation.
He warned that continued policy gaps were exposing citizens, particularly those in the Middle East, to exploitation and trafficking.
He stressed that without a sustainable budget to protect and repatriate our nationals, he questioned whether it’s ethical to continue sending workers abroad.
Bukimbiri County MP Eddie Kwizera echoed calls for greater policy clarity, demanding answers regarding the government’s approach to foreign relations and compensation for damage to diplomatic properties such as Uganda House in Nairobi and the mission in Kinshasa.
