Ayebare grateful to Museveni for appointing him minister
Ayebare, who has also been serving as an ex officio member of Cabinet, will replace Gen. (Rtd) Jeje Odongo, who was among the ministers Museveni recently dropped in a move seen as an attempt to refresh the state without destabilising it.
Uganda’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, was appointed new Minister of Foreign Affairs. (File photo)
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Uganda’s ambassador and permanent representative to the United Nations, Adonia Ayebare, has expressed gratitude to President Yoweri Museveni for appointing him Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ayebare, who has also been serving as an ex officio member of Cabinet, will replace Gen. (Rtd) Jeje Odongo, who was among the ministers Museveni recently dropped in a move seen as an attempt to refresh the state without destabilising it.
“I wish to express my deepest gratitude for the confidence and trust you have placed in me by appointing me foreign minister of the Republic of Uganda. I am profoundly honoured by this responsibility and humbled by the opportunity to continue serving our nation under your leadership,” he said in an X post on May 27, 2026.
The 59-year-old career diplomat also said he remains “fully committed” to advancing Uganda’s foreign policy objectives, safeguarding national interests and strengthening diplomatic relations across the region and globally.
“I pledge to serve with loyalty, diligence, and dedication in pursuit of Uganda’s peace, prosperity, and strategic aspirations. Thank you, Your Excellency, for your continued guidance and confidence.”
CDF congratulates Ayebare
In a related development, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba, also took to X to congratulate Ayebare, whom he described as his 'big brother', upon his appointment as Foreign Affairs minister.
“From now on, I will wait for guidance on all matters foreign affairs from Mzee (President Museveni) and Adonia,” the CDF, who is also the Senior Presidential Advisor on Special Operations, added on Thursday.
In a swift reply, Ayebare thanked Gen. Muhoozi for trusting and supporting him over the years, noting that it has been a learning experience working with him on different assignments.
“It is the other way round; I will be waiting for instructions from Mzee and you. Diplomacy serves as the first line of defense for national security. Your achievements in diplomacy speak for themselves,” he told the four-star general.
“We were on [a] collision course with our friends in Rwanda, you prevented disaster. Our relations with DRC, South Sudan, I can go on and on. I am ready for marching orders Afande.”
After three years, Rwanda reopened its busiest land border with Uganda in early February 2022, in what was seen as a full return to warmer diplomatic relations and trade between the two neighbouring countries. Gen. Muhoozi was credited with playing a pivotal role in resolving the issues between the two countries.
The Gatuna-Katuna border crossing was closed in 2019 after tensions escalated between the two countries, with Rwanda accusing Uganda of harassing its citizens and harbouring rebels allegedly seeking to overthrow its government.
Kampala also accused Kigali of attempting to infiltrate its intelligence services with spies.
Ayebare was first appointed to Cabinet in April last year and thanked the President for entrusting him with strategic diplomatic assignments, both bilateral and multilateral, over the years.
Analysts say appointing him as Foreign Affairs minister gives Cabinet a more professional diplomatic face and suggests the President wants foreign policy to appear steadier, more polished and less militarised in tone.