Share this article

Minister Mulimba has urged diplomatic restraint following the fire that destroyed Uganda House in Nairobi amid protests in Kenya. The incident, which caused significant property damage, is being addressed bilaterally. However, MPs have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of Uganda’s foreign missions and inadequate financial oversight.

Minister of State for Regional Affairs, John Mulimba, has called for diplomatic restraint following the fire that destroyed Uganda House in Nairobi several months ago. His remarks were made in response to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC Central) report, which examined the Auditor General’s findings on Uganda’s High Commissions in Dar es Salaam, Nairobi, and Mombasa for the 2022/23 financial year.

The fire, which occurred during widespread protests over Kenya’s 2024/25 Finance Bill aimed at raising KSh 10 trillion ($2.7 billion) through additional taxes, is alleged to have been started by enraged demonstrators. The fire caused significant damage to property valued at UGX 6 billion, including Link Forex Bureau, owned by Mawokota South MP Yusuf Nsibambi (FDC).

While addressing the matter on October 15, 2024, Minister Mulimba clarified that neither the Government of Uganda nor Kenya was responsible for the fire, attributing it instead to civil unrest and categorizing the incident as a case of force majeure. He emphasized that the situation is being handled diplomatically, urging colleagues to refrain from further debate on the issue.

“I agree, Madam Speaker (Anita Annet Among), Uganda needs her house, and we are working to ensure it is restored through bilateral efforts,” Mulimba added.

However, his response sparked further concerns from lawmakers, including Nathan Nandala Mafabi (Budadiri West, FDC), who noted the deteriorating condition of Uganda’s foreign missions and the ministry’s failure to present a comprehensive report on the matter. He called for a parliamentary committee to investigate the state of Uganda’s foreign properties and suggest necessary actions.

Alex Bakunda Byarugaba (Isingiro South, NRM) echoed these concerns, highlighting inadequate funding for the foreign affairs sector, citing past instances where embassy properties were neglected. Byarugaba also called for a thorough investigation into the Nairobi fire, raising the possibility of foul play, noting that the building was undergoing renovations at the time of the incident.

During the 2022/23 financial year, the Nairobi Mission had an approved budget of UGX 14.072 billion, supplemented by UGX 0.33 billion. However, only UGX 21 million was collected in Non-Tax Revenue (NTR), falling significantly short of the target. The shortfall was attributed to ongoing renovations at Uganda House, but the PAC report criticized the unrealistic NTR projections and highlighted discrepancies in the financial reporting.

The committee recommended that the Accountant General provide capacity-building training in bookkeeping for the head of accounts at the mission to improve credibility, accuracy, and consistency in financial management.