Seasoned diplomat Ambassador Kinyera hailed for remarkabe career

________________

Tributes during the requiem mass at Our Lady of Africa Catholic Church in Mbuya highlighted Santa Mary Laker Kinyera’s long journey in Uganda’s Foreign Service, where she joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1994 and steadily rose through the ranks to become one of the country’s respected career diplomats.

Family, diplomats, and government officials were among mourners gathered today, March 12, to pay their last respects to veteran Ugandan diplomat Santa Mary Laker Kinyera, whose death on March 3, 2026 at Mulago Specialised National Referral Hospital has been described as a significant loss to the country’s diplomatic service.

The requiem mass, held earlier today on March 12, 2026, brought together colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Uganda, friends and relatives who eulogised the late ambassador as a principled public servant whose career in diplomacy spanned nearly three decades.

At the time of her death, she was serving as Uganda’s Deputy High Commissioner to Rwanda in Kigali.

Different people described her as a disciplined and dedicated professional who believed in dialogue, regional cooperation and the quiet work of diplomacy.

Colleagues recalled that throughout her career she represented Uganda in several regional and international engagements, including initiatives under the African Union and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development aimed at promoting peace and stability in the Horn of Africa.

In a tribute shared online, former ministry official Ivan Koreta wrote: “There are moments when words feel inadequate. Uganda has lost Ambassador Santa Mary Laker Kinyera, a towering figure in our Foreign Service.”

He added that beyond her professional excellence, Kinyera stood out for her character and dedication to representing Ugandans fairly in international engagements.

During the mass, clergy encouraged mourners to reflect on the meaning of service and humility, noting that the late diplomat’s life was a reminder that true leadership is expressed through commitment to others and integrity in public duty.

Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also praised Kinyera’s mentorship of younger officers within the diplomatic service, saying she guided many junior diplomats and helped shape a new generation of foreign service officers.

Santa's life:

Born and educated in Uganda, Kinyera studied Social Sciences at Makerere University before pursuing further studies abroad. Over the years she served in various diplomatic roles both at the ministry headquarters in Kampala and at Ugandan missions overseas, including assignments in Copenhagen.

She also served in State House as Private Secretary to President Yoweri Museveni in charge of diplomatic affairs, and later played a role in opening Uganda’s embassy in Ankara, Turkey.

Friends and family at the funeral remembered her as approachable, thoughtful and deeply committed to her work, describing her as a calm but determined leader who believed in professionalism and cooperation even in challenging diplomatic environments.

Tributes also poured in on social media, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs describing her as “a towering figure in Uganda’s Foreign Service” who served the country with distinction for nearly three decades.

“She dedicated nearly three decades to advancing Uganda’s interests with unwavering integrity, clarity and commitment,” he said.

Kinyera's burial is scheduled on Saturday, March 14, in Akurukwe, Amuru District.