BREAKING!! Museveni Orders The Closure Of Ugandan Embassies Across The World

President Yoweri Museveni has asked the Ugandan government to shut down or combine some of the country’s embassies abroad. This decision comes as the cost of running foreign missions continues to rise, putting pressure on the national budget. Uganda currently operates 38 embassies and high commissions in countries like the United States, United Kingdom, Russia, and Australia. But the President says many of them are expensive and not helpful to the country.

During a cabinet meeting held in March, Museveni shared his concern that some embassy staff are paid high allowances but do little to promote Uganda’s image, trade, or development. He instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review all embassies and suggest which ones can be closed or merged to save money.

This is not the first time Uganda has considered cutting back on its embassies. Similar plans were discussed in 1999 and 2006, but they were later abandoned. However, this time the government seems more serious. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is facing budget problems, with most of the money spent on rent, salaries, and running costs.

Sources from within the Ministry say some embassy jobs are given to people based on personal connections instead of merit. As a result, performance has been poor in some missions, and a few senior diplomats have even been recalled due to misconduct.

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, told Parliament that Uganda may reduce its number of embassies from 38 to just 15. He said the goal is to keep only those missions that support Uganda’s foreign policy, trade, and international partnerships. “We want to focus our resources on embassies that help us improve foreign relations, trade, and investment,” Oryem explained.

Still, closing embassies won’t be simple. Some missions serve several countries at once. For example, Uganda’s embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, also covers multiple countries in West Africa. The government must find a way to reduce costs without losing its diplomatic presence in key regions.

Permanent Secretary Vincent Bagiire added that quality is more important than quantity. “It is better to have fewer missions with competent staff than many with poor performance,” he said. His comment shows the government’s desire to improve professionalism and effectiveness in foreign service.

Many Ugandans have mixed feelings about this plan. Some fear that cutting embassies might weaken Uganda’s influence in world affairs and make life harder for Ugandans living abroad. Others welcome the move as a way to stop wasting public money and force embassies to focus on real results.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to release a final report soon, naming the embassies that could be shut down or merged. If approved, this plan will mark a big change in Uganda’s foreign policy and could lead to a leaner, stronger diplomatic network.