Uganda envoys in Europe, USA asked to promote diplomacy with economic value

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Uganda’s missions abroad have been tasked to prioritise and amplify Uganda’s economic diplomacy agenda alongside their protocol activities.

Addressing a group of ambassadors from Uganda’s 13 Missions in Europe and the Americas gathered in Frankfurt, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vicent Bagiire, stressed that the work of these missions can no longer be seen as routine representation alone.

The diplomats gathered in Germany for a mid-term review retreat from March 29th to April 3rd.

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The meeting under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s trade and investment potential from the interventions of ECD” was held in partnership with the Ministry of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development. 

“Uganda is at a moment where diplomacy must be felt not only in communiqués and meetings, but in factories opened, tourists received, exports increased, and jobs created back home,” said Bagiire while opening the retreat for Heads of Missions.

PS Bagiire, according to a release from MoFA recalled that in FY 2025/26, 34 Uganda Missions abroad received funding amounting to sh113.25 billion and that Missions’ future funding would, going forward, be tagged to measurable results.

"You are posted in some of the world’s most influential markets, financial centres, innovation hubs, and tourism source countries. That means your work matters directly to the farmer in Kabale, the coffee exporter in Masaka, the tour operator in Kasese, the miner in Karamoja, and the young innovator in Kampala,” adding that “Our task is to turn diplomatic presence into economic value. We must become more intentional, more commercially alert, and more practical in how we pursue the four pillars of Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD)”, he added.

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Uganda’s Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) Strategy for FY 2025/26–FY 2029/30, which was launched in August 2025 in Gulu, repositions diplomatic Missions as frontline delivery platforms for exports, foreign direct investment (FDI), tourism, science, technology and innovation (STI) partnerships, and climate finance.

The strategy aligns diplomatic engagement with Uganda Vision 2040, the Fourth National Development Plan (NDP IV), and the Tenfold Growth Strategy, and seeks to make Uganda’s foreign service more commercially focused, results-oriented, and accountable for measurable economic outcomes. The strategy has seen Uganda’s Embassies implement an aggressive program in support of the ten-fold growth strategy using the ATMS as priority areas.  

The retreat discussions were grounded in important economic indicators that illustrated both progress and urgency. Uganda attracted $3.5 billion in FDI in 2025, while tourism generated $1.5 billion from 1.64 million international visitors. The Heads of Mission, in turn, shared challenges they are experiencing and discussed possible solutions. 

According to the organisers, the retreat generated several key outputs.

These include a comprehensive ECD reporting framework, with standardised templates, indicators, and timelines to improve transparency and accountability.

Additionally, missions discussed a progress report capturing achievements, challenges, recommendations, and mitigation strategies to inform future programming, alongside an impact assessment report quantifying ECD’s contribution to Uganda’s economic growth, tourism, trade, and investment.

(Courtesy)

The retreat discussed a capacity-building plan comprising training modules and technical assistance to enhance the skills and knowledge of diplomats in ECD; and validated, harmonised ECD work plans for FY 2026/27 aligned to national priorities and budget allocations, thereby providing a clear and coordinated roadmap for implementation. 

Head of the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy hub, Amber Richard Kabonero, said that the Mid-term review served to ensure that all Embassies that received funds are operating in line with agreed strategic plans.

In addition, the Missions were tasked to identify key opportunities for attracting FDI, Trade and Tourism and how best to position Uganda to harness the opportunities.

“The Missions were informed that Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) funding for FY 2026/27 will be based on a strategic and evidence-based assessment, which includes a tiered decision matrix evaluating each mission against weighted criteria, including previous ECD performance, capacity to deliver, political and strategic factors, economic potential, and diaspora engagement,” Kabonero explained.

He added that “This approach has ensured that funding supports Missions that drive maximum economic returns and advance the country’s interests.”