Parliament Warns of Diplomatic Embarrassment Over Shs3bn New York Mission Debt

Lawmakers say unpaid utility bills and taxes at Uganda’s New York mission risk service disconnection and reputational damage abroad.

Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has warned that Uganda risks diplomatic embarrassment in the United States if government fails to clear more than Shs3 billion in accumulated arrears at its mission in New York.

The concern was raised by the committee chairperson, Catherine Lamwaka, while presenting findings on the 2026/27 Ministerial Policy Statement for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before Parliament.

Lamwaka said the Uganda Mission in New York has accumulated the arrears over a period of three years, largely driven by unpaid steam and electricity bills for the chancery building, as well as outstanding property taxes.

“The Mission informed the Committee that failure to clear these arrears exposes it to the risk of disconnection of steam and electricity services,” Lamwaka told Parliament.

She further warned that the unpaid obligations continue to attract interest, which could significantly increase the total liability if the matter is not urgently addressed.

“Additionally, the Mission warned that the matter could be referred to debt collection agencies if the arrears remained unsettled, causing diplomatic embarrassment,” she added.

The committee also noted discrepancies in communication between the mission and the ministry, with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initially stating they were unaware of the debt because it had not been formally escalated.

However, Lamwaka revealed that the mission presented documentary evidence showing the issue had been previously communicated.

“The Mission presented to the Committee copies of two letters, one dated 9th April 2025 addressed to the Ministry of Finance and copied to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and another dated 24th November 2025 addressed to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding the same matter,” she said.

Beyond the New York concerns, the committee also considered a proposal from Uganda’s mission in Tehran, Iran, seeking temporary relocation of operations to Baku, Azerbaijan, due to operational challenges.

Lamwaka said the proposed relocation would ensure continuity of consular services for Ugandans within its area of accreditation, which includes Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Palestine, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

“The Committee concurs with the proposed temporary relocation, as it will not only ensure continuity in the delivery of consular services but also enable the Mission to undertake Economic and Commercial Diplomacy activities for which funding has been provided in FY2026/27,” she noted.

The committee’s report now places pressure on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to urgently resolve outstanding liabilities and prevent disruption of services at Uganda’s foreign missions, amid growing concern over the country’s diplomatic reputation abroad.