New US ambassador sworn-in, excited about Uganda

Incoming American ambassador to Uganda, Natalie Brown has been sworn-in to commence her diplomatic tour of duty.

"So deeply appreciative of Police Federal Credit Union of Omaha for hosting and facilitating my swearing-in as the next United States Ambassador to Uganda. I was so touched by friends from around the world who attended virtually. I am excited to get to work. Look for me soon as US ambassador to Uganda," Brown said on Twitter Monday.

She takes over office from Deborah Malac, who has been the US top diplomat in Uganda since February 2016.

In a September report sent to the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the US State Department said Brown said: "Natalie E. Brown, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, class of Counsellor, has served as the Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Asmara, Eritrea, since 2016.  She previously served as Deputy Permanent Representative and Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome, Italy, 2013-2016," the report read in part.

According to a Certificate of Demonstrated Competence submitted to the US Senate for her nomination to the position, Brown also served as Deputy Chief of Mission of US Embassy in Tunis, Tunisia, from 2010 to 2013.

"In a career that has spanned almost three decades, she has garnered experience in both bilateral and multilateral diplomacy with a strong focus on Africa. That experience, coupled with her distinguished record of leadership, makes her an excellent candidate to serve as US Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda," the citation reads.

On social media, Brown exudes free spirit and a penchant for the creative arts. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Washington and a Master of Science degree from the US Marine Corps Command and Staff College in Quantico.

Her profile indicates that she has received numerous State Department awards for outstanding performance.  She is described as ‘a capable linguist,' who speaks French and Arabic and has studied Italian, German, Amharic, and Tigrinya.

Brown served as the Economic Counsellor of the US Embassy in Amman, Jordan and as the Political Chief of the US Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait.

In Washington, she served as a Senior Watch Officer in the State Department Executive Secretariat's Operations Centre and as an International Affairs Officer in the Office of UN Political Affairs in the Bureau of International Organization Affairs, according to the profile.

Prior to the roles, she was the State Department's Desk Officer for Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in the Office of West African Affairs.

She also had assignments overseas in the US Embassy Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the US Embassy Conakry, Guinea.