Gulu, Uganda: More than 70 Ugandan ambassadors and heads of missions have gathered at Gulu University for a five-day conference aimed at enhancing their role in national development through economic and commercial diplomacy.
The event seeks to align the work of Uganda’s diplomatic missions with the government’s Tenfold Strategy, which emphasizes agro-industrialization, tourism promotion, mineral development, and technological advancement. Officials say the conference will also foster innovation, peer-to-peer learning, and improved service delivery to boost Uganda’s image abroad.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Henry Okello Oryem, urged ambassadors to proactively promote the country rather than leaving the responsibility solely to President Yoweri Museveni. “Don’t leave it to the president,” Oryem said. “As heads of missions, you should be pro-active. Make your country stand out.”
He further called on diplomats to mentor young Foreign Service officers, noting that they are key to sustaining Uganda’s global presence. The minister also pledged to step up digitization in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, criticizing some ambassadors for submitting “vague” reports.
Chief guest Gen. Salim Saleh emphasized the urgent need for ambassadors to secure international markets for Uganda’s growing agricultural output. “Uganda is producing a lot, but the market is lacking,” he said, challenging envoys to actively market Uganda’s produce and investment opportunities.
The conference, themed “Strengthening the Foreign Service’s Contribution to National Development,” runs until Friday. Officials expect the gathering to yield more coordinated and efficient approaches by Uganda’s missions abroad in promoting trade, investment, and the country’s international standing.
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