Gulu City — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has commenced its five-day Annual Ambassadors’ Conference at Gulu University, Gulu City, bringing together Heads and Deputy Heads of Mission, senior diplomats, government officials, and sector partners. The week-long Conference runs from 1st September to 5th September 2025 under the theme The theme of this year’s Conference is “Strengthening the Foreign Service’s Contribution to National Development”.
In his welcoming remarks, Prof. George Ladaah Openjuru, Vice Chancellor of Gulu University, expressed his institution’s pride in hosting the Conference. He highlighted the significance of the chosen theme, underscoring the University’s contribution to knowledge generation, research, and community engagement. He further invited Uganda’s Ambassadors to connect Gulu University with global networks in education, innovation, and research partnerships.
Mr. Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while addressing the gathering, thanked Gulu University for its hospitality and lauded the Heads of Mission for their dedication in advancing Uganda’s diplomatic agenda over the past year. He emphasized that this year’s deliberations would focus on aligning Uganda’s Foreign Service with the Government’s Tenfold Growth Strategy, particularly through the advancement of Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD). He called for full participation throughout the sessions, noting that the Head of Public Service who will also attend the Conference, would outline expectations for the Missions abroad.
State minister for Foreign Affairs (International Affairs), Hon. Oryem Henry Okello, commended the Ambassadors for their resilience in serving under diverse conditions from fragile and conflict-affected states to strategic global capitals. He challenged Heads of Mission to take greater ownership of Uganda’s international representation and ensure that Missions deliver measurable impact in trade, investment, and cooperation.
In her remarks, Hon. Catherine Lamwaka, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs, reiterated Parliament’s commitment to supporting the Ministry’s mandate, while emphasizing accountability and transparency in the management of public resources.
Hon. Gen. Odongo Jeje Abubakhar the Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivered a policy statement, commending the Ministry, Missions, and stakeholders for their contribution to Uganda’s visibility and diplomatic achievements over the past year including progress in economic diplomacy, regional peace initiatives, and expanded diaspora engagement. He reiterated the importance of the Conference theme, calling on Ambassadors to align their Missions with Uganda’s national priorities under NDP IV and the Tenfold Growth Strategy, with particular focus on agro-industrialization, tourism, mineral beneficiation, and science and technology innovation (ATMS).
The Ambassadors received a Keynote address on Musevenomics from Gen. (Rtd) Caleb Akandwanaho (Salim Saleh), Chief Coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation and Presidential Advisor on Defence and Security, who was the chief guest.
Gen. Akandwanaho underscored the importance of synchronizing Uganda’s national interests with foreign policy execution. He said that Uganda’s diplomats must synchronize with the country’s national interests. He noted that this requires deeper coordination, strategic planning, and alignment between the Foreign Service and the Foreign Affairs Ministry Headquarters.
He stressed the role of diplomacy in supporting economic transformation, export diversification, and international cooperation. “While Uganda has recorded growth in non-traditional exports such as gold, tourism, and remittances, the challenge remains in scaling up agricultural exports. We must develop strategies that unlock the full potential of our farmers,” Gen. Saleh
Over the next few days, the Ambassadors will hold discussions on a range of issues, peer review their performance, set new benchmarks for the coming financial year, receive updates on Uganda’s performance as Chair of NAM, hold panel discussions on the Draft Diaspora Policy and will receive briefings on expectations of partner Government MDAs, among others.
The 2025 Annual Ambassadors’ Conference reaffirms the Ministry’s commitment to ensuring that Uganda’s Foreign Service remains a central instrument in promoting peace, advancing economic growth, and protecting national interests in an increasingly complex global environment. Gen. Saleh underscored the need for coordination, strategic planning, and adaptability as Uganda strengthens its position globally while pursuing inclusive economic transformation at home.