Published on 22/05/2025
Following last year’s merger and abolition of several government agencies, government is now considering scaling back its global footprint by closing some of its foreign missions.
The development was revealed by Vincent Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during his appearance before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on May 21, 2025. Bagiire was responding to questions from PAC Chairperson, Muwanga Kivumbi (Butambala County), who sought clarification on media reports indicating plans to close 15 missions abroad.
“There are 15 embassies being phased out under this RAPEX program or whatever it is. Are some of these included in that list? If they are going to be phased out, why are we still funding their capital development?” Kivumbi asked. “Can you furnish us with a list of embassies earmarked for closure?”
While Bagiire confirmed that a restructuring of the foreign service is underway, he distanced himself from the reported number of affected missions.
“Yes, I saw the number 15, but I don’t know where it came from,” Bagiire said. “I was in Cabinet when the matter of reorganising the foreign service came up. The President tasked the Ministry to prepare a paper, which we are now working on. The proposals may include closing some missions where Uganda derives no strategic value—but only after a thorough study.”
He added, “We aren’t acting ad hoc or abruptly. Once the paper is complete, it will be presented to Cabinet to justify any closures. The proposal will also explore whether closing one mission can be balanced by opening another. So until Cabinet approves the paper, no definitive list of closures exists.”
However, Bagiire’s comments appeared to contradict earlier remarks by State Minister for Foreign Affairs, John Mulimba, who in April 2025 told Parliament that 15 missions were earmarked for closure.
“We have a directive from the President to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of our presence in the 35 embassies, with a view to scaling down to about 15,” Bagiire noted. “So while staffing remains a challenge, we’re also looking to reduce staff numbers and physical presence abroad.”
The discussion arose during consideration of the December 2024 Auditor General’s report on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Auditor General Edward Akol highlighted severe underfunding in the capital development budgets for several missions abroad. According to the report, only 10 of the 38 audited missions received capital development funding during the financial year.
The remaining 28 missions received no funding for urgent needs, such as replacing old furniture, procuring ICT equipment, purchasing utility vehicles, and refurbishing chanceries and ambassadors’ residences.
Kivumbi questioned whether these underfunded missions were among those being considered for closure under the rationalisation plan.
Documents before the Foreign Affairs Committee show that the proposed budget for foreign missions in FY2025/26 stands at UGX 400.205 billion—an increase of UGX 77.585 billion (19%) from the current financial year.
The rise is mainly attributed to higher allocations in both wage and non-wage components. However, the development budget is projected to drop by 8% (UGX 4.598 billion).
Uganda currently maintains 38 missions abroad, while hosting 54 foreign embassies and consulates from various countries.
