The Annual Ambassador’s Conference commenced today at the Civil Service College in Jinja, with a focus on the theme, “Strengthening Governance and Performance of the Foreign Service for National Development.” The conference, inaugurated by Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister Jeje Odongo, brought together Ugandan diplomats stationed around the world to discuss key strategies for enhancing the nation’s diplomatic impact and governance.
In his opening remarks, Minister Odongo emphasized the critical role that the Foreign Service plays in advancing Uganda’s national development agenda.
He highlighted the importance of strengthening governance within the Foreign Service to ensure that Uganda’s diplomatic missions effectively represent the country’s interests.
The conference, however, comes against the backdrop of two major controversies involving Uganda’s diplomatic corps. In one incident, Uganda’s Ambassador to Canada, Joy Ruth Acheng, was recently declared persona non grata by the Canadian government. The move followed allegations of uncouth behavior that reportedly strained diplomatic relations between the two countries. While the specific details of the behavior remain undisclosed, the incident has raised concerns about the conduct of Ugandan diplomats abroad.
In a separate incident, Uganda’s diplomat to the United Arab Emirates, Peter Maayega, was recalled to Kampala amid investigations into allegations that the Ugandan consulate had been involved in purchasing gambling machines, effectively turning it into a mini casino. The accusations have sparked outrage and prompted calls for stricter oversight of Uganda’s foreign missions.
