GULU, Uganda – Uganda’s Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance have unveiled a new strategy to boost the nation’s global trade and investment. At the Annual Ambassadors’ Conference in Gulu, officials launched the Economic and Commercial Diplomacy (ECD) Strategy Handbook, giving envoys a clear framework to guide their work.
The handbook was introduced by Henry Oryem Okello, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Ramathan Ggoobi, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Oryem emphasized that the document will serve as a definitive guide for Uganda’s diplomatic missions abroad. He challenged the idea that the Foreign Service is merely a “consumptive ministry” and underscored its active role in national development, including preparing for the country’s oil revenue.
“Every Head of Mission and Foreign Service officer should read, understand, and apply it to ensure coordinated action that attracts investment, tourism, and development for Uganda,” Oryem said.
Vincent Waiswa Bagiire, the Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs, urged ambassadors to focus on Uganda’s development agenda. He noted that Ggoobi’s leadership has energized missions to align with the country’s “Tenfold Growth Strategy” and highlighted positive transformations in missions in places like Tokyo and New Delhi.
Ggoobi gave a detailed overview of Uganda’s economic resilience, citing a stable national currency and significant foreign direct investment. He also noted a $1.5 billion recovery in the tourism sector and committed to visiting all Ugandan missions to strengthen oversight.
The ECD Strategy’s main goal is to improve Uganda’s ability to attract investments, increase exports, and boost tourism. Key initiatives include better institutional coordination, creating export-import think tanks, and increasing private sector involvement in diplomacy.
Discussions on the second day of the conference focused on making sure the work of the missions aligns with Uganda’s national priorities, ensuring their economic diplomacy efforts have a measurable impact on the country’s growth.
