The Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda is charged with the responsibility of projecting, protecting and advancing the national interests in a competitive environment and to ensure maximum benefits from the harmonization of Uganda’s foreign and domestic objectives.

The Ministry is composed of a Ministry Headquarters, twenty nine (29) Missions and one Consulate. In addition to implementing national foreign policy objectives, the Ministry Headquarters also facilitates and guides Missions abroad in attaining specific targets in areas of investment, tourism, trade promotion and resource mobilization.

At the political level the Ministry is headed by a Minister assisted by two Ministers of State, responsible for International Affairs and Regional Cooperation. The technical team is led by a Permanent Secretary responsible for two Directorates, in addition to the departments of Finance and Administration, and of Protocol and Consular Services.

The current Minister of Foreign Affairs is Hon. Sam Kutesa (MP). The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in-charge of International Affairs is Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, while the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs in-charge of Regional Affairs is Hon. Asuman Kiyingi (MP). The Permanent Secretary is Amb. James Mugume.

Foreign Policy of Uganda

The Foreign Policy of Uganda is the aggregation of the domestic policy projected into the international arena. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is therefore the coordinator of all the domestic aspirations in the foreign environment. The administration and management of Uganda’s foreign policy is designed around three main areas: peace and security, regional cooperation and trade, tourism, investment and resource mobilization.

Guiding Principles of Uganda’s Foreign Policy:

· The 1995 constitution

– Promotion and protection of Uganda’s interests abroad

– Respect of international law and treaty obligations

– Peaceful co-existence and non-alignment

– Settlement of international disputes by peaceful means

– Opposition to all forms of domination, racism and other forms of oppression and exploitation

– Active participation in international and regional organizations that stand for peace, and for the well-being and progress of humanity; and

– Promotion of regional and pan-African cultural, economic and political cooperation

· Regional instruments

– Article 6 of the Treaty for the establishment of the East African Community,

– Article 4 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union

· International instruments

– Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations

Accomplishments of the Ministry