By Spy Uganda
Uganda’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Nimisha Madhvani, is currently residing in a hotel after her official residence was declared uninhabitable. This revelation comes amid growing concerns over the UGX 44 billion Uganda spends annually on rent for diplomatic missions abroad.
The Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs, Muwada Nkunyingi, raised the issue in the 2025/26 Alternative Ministerial Policy Statement for the Foreign Affairs Sector, calling on the government to prioritize property acquisition to ease the financial burden on taxpayers.
“There is a glaring lack of commitment to acquiring, developing, and maintaining property for Uganda’s missions abroad. Out of the 38 missions, only 10 own both a chancery building and an official residence. Some of these premises are in a deplorable state—if not condemned entirely. In London, for instance, the High Commissioner is staying in a hotel because her official residence is dilapidated and unsafe for human occupation,” Nkunyingi stated.
The Kyadondo East legislator urged the government to either acquire chancery buildings and official residences for the 16 missions without property or explore cost-benefit analyses to determine feasible alternatives. He emphasized that owning diplomatic properties would significantly reduce Uganda’s annual rent expenses.
“As the opposition, we maintain that acquiring property for foreign missions is a cost-effective strategy. We propose a multi-year approach where rent payments are redirected toward property acquisition through mortgage arrangements. This will ultimately provide a long-term solution. Parliament should authorize missions abroad to acquire specific properties through structured financing mechanisms,” he added.
Uganda’s Visa Reciprocity Concerns
Nkunyingi also criticized the government’s failure to secure reciprocal visa arrangements with at least nine countries whose citizens enjoy visa-free entry into Uganda. He attributed this diplomatic shortfall to inadequate engagement by Ugandan officials.
“There is a lack of reciprocity from at least nine countries that benefit from Uganda’s visa exemptions. This suggests that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not done enough in public diplomacy to improve the mobility of our passport holders,” he said.
He further explained that Uganda’s passport ranks poorly within the East African region, trailing behind Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
“At a score of 70, Uganda’s ordinary passport grants visa-free access to only 34 countries, visa-on-arrival privileges in 35 countries, and requires a visa for 127 destinations. According to the 2024 Africa Visa Openness Index, Uganda ranks 26th, a slight improvement from 30th in 2023. The top-ranked nations—Rwanda, Benin, The Gambia, and Seychelles—offer visa-free access to all African travelers,” Nkunyingi noted.
International Subscriptions
The opposition also raised concerns over the government’s failure to allocate funds for Uganda’s annual subscriptions to international organizations.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not received any funding for its annual international organization subscriptions, amounting to UGX 25.56 billion. This lack of funding raises serious concerns about Uganda’s ability to engage effectively and maintain representation on the global stage,” Nkunyingi cautioned.
His remarks highlight broader concerns over Uganda’s foreign policy strategy, diplomatic engagement, and financial management regarding its missions abroad.
