Govt to build institute for training career diplomats

By Joyce Namutebi 

THE Ministry of Foreign Affairs is planning to build an institute for training diplomats.

Acting Foreign affairs Minister, Henry Okello Oryem on Monday revealed that the Uganda Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs (UIDIA) is to be constructed at Lubowa next to Roofings.

Construction of the institute is one of the ministry’s planned activities in financial year 2015/16 contained in the Ministry’s policy statement to Parliament.

The statement said that UIDIA will be established to build capacity for research, policy development and training among others.

The minister explained the need to have a facility which is up to international standards for training diplomats instead of taking them abroad.

He also explained that the land at Lubowa is for government. He however, said the institute has not been costed but that they are “thinking of a grant from a friendly country.”

Members of Parliament have over the years appealed to government to appoint more career diplomats to represent the country abroad.

The MPs have always stressed the need to have professional diplomats grounded in diplomacy for purposes of advocacy and promotion of Uganda’s interests.

They MPs say they have always received numerous complaints from career diplomats that they have retarded in their career growth because there are political appointees pushed above them.

Other planned activities mentioned in the policy statement, which is yet to be scrutinized by the foreign affairs committee includes renovating the Ministry Headquarters and the four chanceries in Kinshasa, Nairobi, Paris and Brussels and renovation of Uganda House in Nairobi.

On the achievements in the past year, Oryem said that within the International Conference of the Great Lakes Region Uganda continues to support efforts geared towards addressing peace, security and stability in Eastern DRC. 

“The first phase of repatriation of former rebels took place and Government encourages the DRC Government to fully implement the Nairobi Declarations that resulted from the Kampala Dialogue between the Government of DRC and the M23 rebels,” he said.

He also cited Uganda’s role in the peace process in South Sudan, which he said, is being recognised by many including the Troika (USA, United Kingdom and Norway) and other partners.

He, however, said that the situation in Central African Republic remains of concern to Uganda, Africa and the International Community. 

“Uganda is ready to play her role in efforts for the African Union and the United Nations. We have continued to work with the African Union, the USA and the authorities of the Central African Republic on the issue of liquidation of the Lord's Resistance Army. Our efforts are yielding promising results.”

Oryem also said the ministry coordinated the signing of the MoUs on border demarcation between Uganda and Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan, and Uganda and DRC whose outcome will result in the border demarcation that enhances peaceful co-existence and increased trade relations.