The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clarified that none of its diplomats were expelled from the United Kingdom.
This follows media reports that some Ugandan diplomats were expelled from the United Kingdom for alleged Human Trafficking.
However, in a statement, Vincent Bagiire Waiswa, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said, “We would like to first and foremost clarify that no Ugandan diplomat has been expelled from the United Kingdom.”
He challenged the authors of the information to present to the public the instrument that declared the said diplomats persona non grata.
Without disclosing their identities, Bagiire added, “For the record, these diplomats ended their tour of duty that runs between 3 to 4 years and were duly recalled to headquarters for further duty instructions as the practise is in Diplomatic Service.”
Under Article 9 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, the receiving state may at any time without having to explain its decision declare any member of a diplomatic staff of a sending state persona non grata. It is only under that provision that a diplomat is deemed unwelcome in the receiving state and can use the term expelled.
