Uganda Signs Deal to Host UN Office On Crime & Drugs in Kampala

Uganda and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) have signed a Host Country Agreement paving the way for the establishment of a UNODC office in Kampala.

The agreement was signed on Tuesday, 18 August 2026, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in Kampala by Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Adonia Ayebare and UNODC Regional Representative for Eastern Africa, Ali Farouk Elbereir.

Elbereir congratulated Ayebare on his appointment and reaffirmed UNODC’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Uganda in the fight against transnational organised crime.

Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Hon. Adonia Ayebare signing the agreement

He said the Uganda office is expected to become one of UNODC’s three largest offices globally, underscoring Uganda’s strategic importance and stability.

The office will focus on key areas including wildlife trafficking, people smuggling, cybercrime, money laundering and anti-corruption, while also supporting broader UNODC programmes and regional initiatives.

UNODC Regional Representative for Eastern Africa, Ali Farouk Elbereir

The discussions also highlighted Uganda’s chairmanship of the Khartoum Process, with both sides identifying opportunities to deepen cooperation on migration, crime prevention and other regional challenges.

Minister Ayebare welcomed the establishment of the office, saying it would strengthen Uganda’s institutions and support law enforcement agencies in preventing and dismantling criminal cartels, as well as tackling money laundering.

“Uganda is a team,” Ayebare said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to working closely with UNODC and assuring the agency of Uganda’s support.

The Host Country Agreement formally establishes the UNODC Office in Kampala and provides a framework for its operations, programmes and projects, while deepening collaboration between the Government of Uganda and the United Nations agency.