Kenyan protesters on Tuesday, June 25, 2024, vandalised and set ablaze the newly refurbished Uganda House – a Commercial Building located on Kenyatta Avenue in the Nairobi Central Business District.
According to Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the wake of protests in Kenya, the protestors abandoned the principle of peaceful demonstrations and took the path of destruction of properties.
The 6-floor Uganda House building which was slated for reopening this Friday 28th June, 2024 has been undergoing renovations and was only occupied by commercial tenants on the ground floor.
The other floors, including, the Third Floor which previously housed the Consular Office, had been vacated to allow for renovations.
“Whereas we regret the said incident that led to the destruction of the property, we commend the Nairobi Fire Department for putting out the fire,” said PS Bagiire.
He added: “While there is extensive damage to the property, we are grateful that there are no reported fatalities or serious injuries that have been identified so far. It is also important to note that none of the Diplomatic or Consular staff were in the building at the time the fire broke out.”
He said the Government of the Republic of Uganda’s relations with the Government and people of the Republic of Kenya remain solid.
“We support peaceful demonstrations as a democratic right but we condemn in the strongest terms, violence that leads to destruction of property and loss of lives,” he noted, adding:
“We therefore call for calm, discourage unnecessary and unhelpful speculation and premature conclusions to allow for investigations into the matter.”
