KAMPALA — On Saturday September 7, 2019 Foreign affairs minister Sam Kutesa, flanked by a couple of other ministers presided over the launch of the refurbished Uganda High Commission Chancery in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
The building, located on Plot No. 25, Msasani Road, an upscale suburb of Dar es Salaam city, houses Uganda’s diplomatic mission in Tanzania.
Also present at the event filled with pomp, featuring colourful performances of traditional dances by Ndere Troupe, were ministers Esther Mbayo (presidency), Muruli Mukasa (public service) and Persis Namuganza (state minister for lands).
However, present in the same city, but conspicuously absent from the ceremony was President Yoweri Museveni.
Mr Museveni was in the country where he, accompanied by the First Lady Hon. Janet Museveni, the previous day delivered the keynote address at the inauguration of Mwalimu Nyerere Foundation Building in Dar es Salaam.
The President and his counterpart President John Pombe Magufuli performed joint ceremonies during the Symposium held under the theme: “One World, One Humanity; Revisiting the Legacy of Mwalimu Nyerere”.
A source who was in Dar es Salaam tells us that on the morning of the launch of the Chancery, President Museveni left Tanzania for Uganda a few minutes before the ceremony.
According to our source, there are questions surrounding the procurement process and accountability for the refurbishment of the Chancery. Which they said could have been the reason the President chose to stay away from the function.
Funds for the refurbishment were provided by the government of Uganda and the refurbishment was over seen by Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Richard Kabonero.
The Minister Kutesa commended the Government of Uganda for availing the resources for the refurbishment and extension of the country’s high Commission premises in Dar-es-Salaam.
He however, didn’t explain why Museveni snubbed the meeting despite being on the agenda.
High Commissioner Richard Kabonero on his part said the new home for the Ugandan mission in Dar-es-Salaam, is a pride to Ugandans in Tanzania.
Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Mr. Patrick Mugoya, expressed happiness that the Government of Uganda has embarked on the renovation or construction of new homes for Uganda missions abroad like in Kigali Rwanda, Bujumbura in Burundi and Juba in South Sudan, among others.
Mr. Kabonero was named Uganda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania in 2017.
Kabonero had previously held ambassadorial post for more than 10 years in Rwanda.
PML Daily is continuing to follow up on the money and will uncover the story as it develops.
