New Foreign Affairs Minister Vows to Tackle Ministry's Challenges

Ambassador Adonia Ayebare, newly appointed as the Minister of Foreign Affairs, has publicly committed to resolving existing challenges within the ministry. Speaking at his first press briefing, Ayebare, who began his diplomatic career at the ministry and later served as Uganda’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, expressed confidence in his ability to implement necessary reforms.

He highlighted that the ministry possesses capable personnel, suggesting that fixing its issues should be achievable. Ayebare stressed the importance of efficient communication and coordination between the ministry headquarters and Uganda’s diplomatic missions abroad, vowing to ensure missions receive timely support. “Now that I’ve come here, there is no excuse why we cannot support missions. And support missions in real time,” he stated.

The minister also issued a stern warning against internal conflicts within diplomatic missions, noting that such disputes can significantly harm Uganda’s international image and hinder efforts in trade, investment, and diplomatic relations.

Ayebare called for enhanced accountability for heads of diplomatic missions, advocating for performance targets to be clearly set and assessed for all ambassadors, irrespective of their appointment type. He shared his personal experience of not receiving a formal performance charter during his tenure in New York, suggesting that such frameworks are crucial for evaluating ambassadorial performance.

Furthermore, he urged Ugandan missions to be more proactive in attracting foreign investment. Citing his time in New York, Ayebare mentioned successes in attracting major global companies like Boeing and Starlink, despite working with limited resources. He reiterated that the core functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are to build and sustain diplomatic relationships, a principle he believes should guide all its activities.

During the handover ceremony, outgoing acting minister Haruna Kyeyune Kasolo echoed the need for better coordination, particularly in tracking investment leads generated by diplomatic missions. He noted that the ministry’s contributions are often underestimated due to poor information sharing and fragmented operations, advocating for a more centralized approach to managing investment opportunities secured by Ugandan representatives abroad.

Source: Nile Post