The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Bagiire Vincent Waiswa, has concluded a three-day working visit to Vienna to assess the progress of the opening of a resident Embassy to the Government of Austria and Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other International Organisations in Vienna.
The opening of the Embassy in Vienna is in line with a decision made in August 2023 for improved coordination purposes during Uganda’s leadership of the Non-Aligned Movement 2024-2027, promoting Uganda’s strategic interest in advancing nuclear development for peaceful uses, and strengthening further the excellent relations between Uganda and Austria. Relations between Uganda and Austria have hitherto been covered by the Uganda Embassy in Berlin.
Speaking from Vienna, Mr Bagiire explained that a permanent presence in Vienna would enable a closer partnership with the Austrian Government and coordination of Uganda’s development aspirations with the Vienna-based international organisations.
“We foresee closer working relations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for nuclear development, UNIDO for industrialisation, UN Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) for control of drugs and crime and the UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) for advancement of Uganda’s space capabilities,” said Bagiire.
During his visit, Mr Bagiire held meetings with Amb. Hannah Liko, Director General for Political Affairs at the Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr Peter Webinger, Director General for Migration at the Ministry of Interior. Their discussions focused on development cooperation; assistance for Uganda’s Refugee programmes; Regional peace efforts; the war in Ukraine; and proposals for professional labour migration.
At the United Nations, Mr Bagiire held a meeting with Mr Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the IAEA. The Permanent Secretary extended Uganda’s appreciation for IAEA’s support and funding for the country’s nuclear energy programme; provision of equipment for cancer treatment at Mulago Hospital; Institutional development and improvement of laboratory capabilities at the Directorate of Government Analytical Laboratory, UNBS, Dairy Development Authority, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries; and human resource training and capacity building.
The meeting with Mr Grossi also discussed other areas for cooperation, such as the Atoms4Food Initiative, spearheaded by FAO and IAEA, aimed at supporting countries to use innovative nuclear techniques to enhance agricultural productivity, reduce food losses, improve nutrition and adapt to the challenges of climate change. The other is the Rays for Hope Initiative, which is aimed at assisting countries in expanding their capacities for using radiotherapy in cancer treatment.
In addition, Mr Bagiire held a meeting with Mr Yuko Yasunaga, Deputy Director General of UNIDO and Managing Director of the Directorate of Corporate Services and Operations. He extended Uganda’s appreciation for UNIDO’s support in driving the country’s industrialisation aspirations. UNIDO is providing technical assistance for the development of agricultural industrial value chains in the coffee sector, climate change adaptation, as well as the acquisition of equipment for agricultural mechanisation. UNIDO is also working with Uganda to develop a Programme for Country Partnership that is expected to be launched in 2026.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted the need for programmes for value addition in Uganda’s minerals sector. He requested UNIDO to consider partnering with Uganda in the Parish Development Model strategy, which is aimed at igniting production through SMEs at the grassroots level, thus increasing household incomes.
Mr Bagiire was accompanied by Amb. Stephen Mubiru, Uganda’s Ambassador to Germany; Ambassador Dora Kutesa, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy in Vienna; and officials, including Mr Anthony Agama Woling, Ms Isabella Nakalema and Ms Anne Nabaasa Baguma.