The Government of Uganda is set to inject an additional Shs 4.5 billion into the renovation of Uganda House, a six-storey commercial property in Nairobi severely damaged during anti-tax protests in June 2024.
This brings the total cost of the renovation project to nearly Shs 30 billion, sparking concerns from lawmakers and oversight bodies over accountability and the country’s diplomatic posture.
While appearing before the Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee – Central Government (PAC-Central) on May 21, Permanent Secretary of Foreign Affairs Vincent Bagiire confirmed that efforts to seek compensation from both the Kenyan government and the contractor’s insurer had yielded no results.
“We reached out to the Kenyan authorities and received only letters of regret from President Ruto and Prime Minister Mudavadi. “The contractor’s insurer denied liability, and the Solicitor General supported that position,” Bagiire stated.
Committee members expressed dismay at the government’s response and demanded a comprehensive financial audit.
“We need full documentation: when the building was damaged, what has been paid so far, and the current status of the contract,” said Hon. Gorreth Namugga, PAC Deputy Chairperson.
Hon. Silas Aogon (Kumi Municipality) questioned why Uganda had not pursued legal recourse:
“The DRC took us to court, and we’re now paying over a trillion shillings. Why haven’t we taken Kenya to court? We keep losing taxpayers’ money while they send us letters of regret.”
Committee Chair Hon. Muhammad Muwanga Kivumbi added that Uganda’s diplomatic reputation may be contributing to such repeated incidents.
“Why are our missions the ones attacked? What image do we project in the region?”
Uganda House, located at 15 Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi’s CBD, was inaugurated in 1965 and has long served as both a commercial center and diplomatic mission, housing consular offices and private tenants.
By 2020, the building will need significant upgrades. A renovation project valued at over Shs 70 billion was launched in 2022, aimed at restoring its status as a premier regional facility. Work included structural upgrades, modernized interiors, and new utilities. The building was slated to reopen on June 28, 2024, days before it was torched by rioters during protests against a controversial finance bill in Kenya.
The six-floor building was ready to reopen in just three days. “The first floor, occupied by tenants, suffered the most damage,” Bagiire noted.
On June 25, 2024, violent protests erupted across Nairobi. Rioters vandalized and set fire to Uganda House, leaving it severely damaged. Eyewitnesses reported a lack of timely fire response, with one individual noting:
“There are only three water bowsers in Nairobi. We are losing Uganda House. It is hurting.”
Although the Nairobi Fire Department eventually contained the blaze, the destruction—especially on the lower floors—was substantial.
Bagiire later thanked Kenyan authorities but acknowledged the deep disappointment surrounding the incident:
“We commend the Nairobi Fire Department, but we regret the incident and the massive damage inflicted on the property.”
Unlike the Kenyan response that was limited to letters of regret, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) formally acknowledged damage to Uganda’s embassy in Kinshasa and requested a damage report. Uganda has since submitted the necessary documentation and is awaiting formal feedback.
Col. Victor Nekesa (UPDF representative) called for a stronger diplomatic posture:
The Ministry must work on reshaping Uganda’s regional image and improve its communication. Have suspects in Nairobi or Kinshasa even been arrested?”
PAC also questioned the absence of a comprehensive diaspora engagement strategy, which members argued could bolster public diplomacy and help protect foreign missions.
“We need a stronger framework for engaging the diaspora and ensuring the physical and diplomatic security of our embassies,” Namugga said.
As Uganda commits another Shs 4.5 billion to repair a symbol of its regional presence, Parliament is demanding greater transparency, diplomatic assertiveness, and policy reform.
The Uganda Housefire has exposed not only structural vulnerabilities but also gaps in Uganda’s foreign mission strategy, prompting wider questions about accountability, sovereignty, and regional influence.