Uganda’s Foreign Affairs Minister General Jeje Odongo (R) and British High Commissioner Kate Airey (L) during bilateral discussions in Kampala, Uganda, following the imposition of sanctions on Speaker of Parliament Anita Among and other Ugandan officials by the US and UK governments. The meeting aimed to address the diplomatic fallout and explore ways to strengthen bilateral relations amidst the crisis.
The US government’s recent designation of five Ugandan officials for sanctions has sparked intense debate and scrutiny of Uganda’s diplomatic efforts. The officials, including Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, were designated for their involvement in significant corruption and gross human rights violations.
The sanctioned officials include Anita Among, Speaker of Parliament, Mary Goretti Kitutu, former Minister of Karamoja Affairs, Agnes Nandutu, former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs, Amos Lugoloobi, Minister of State for Finance, and Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief of Defence Forces.
Senior Journalist Alan Kasujja, lead presenter on BBC News and host of the Africa Daily podcast, has criticized Uganda’s diplomatic failures, questioning the absence of effective engagement with Western partners. “The principle behind unilateral sanctions is- we have power, you don’t. We can sanction anyone we want and you won’t do anything about it. That’s what the Americans and Brits have done,” Kasujja noted.
Kasujja also questioned the role of Uganda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomats, saying, “But here’s the thing. We have a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomats – even though we do crazy things like send someone who can’t speak a word of French to Paris as Ambassador. Where were they?” He further asked, “General Jeje Odongo, the Minister, speaks the same language as Anita Among. But do they get along enough for him to have offered advice when stuff hit the fan?”
The journalist also expressed doubts about the effectiveness of Uganda’s diplomatic efforts, saying, “What about Minister John Mulimba and Okello Oryem? Do they even get along? I am not convinced that they do.” He noted that if Uganda’s engagement with the West was good, “the government would have had sufficient warning and made damage control moves. Not a rushed meeting between British High Commissioner Kate and President Museveni on the eve of the bombshell.”
Kasujja also highlighted the dysfunction at Uganda’s embassies abroad, saying, “I have seen a pile of information detailing the dysfunction at our embassies abroad. It is bad. Too embarrassing to go into. Not even a genius and dedicated public servant like PS Vicent Bagiire can fix it.”
Despite the challenges, Kasujja emphasized the need for Uganda to recognize its disengagement from the global community and revamp its diplomatic efforts. “Yet we must. We can no longer behave like Uganda is a village. It is dangerous to keep playing LC 1 politics. We need to recognise that we are disengaged from the world and that needs to change,” he said.
The US Department of State’s press statement highlighted the involvement of the designated officials in corrupt practices and human rights abuses, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency. The sanctions aim to counter corruption and gross human rights violations, reaffirming the US commitment to supporting democratic principles and human rights in Uganda.
The sanctions have sparked a wider conversation about Uganda’s diplomatic failures and the need for reform. As the country navigates this diplomatic crisis, it must prioritize transparency, accountability, and engagement with the international community.
